Combined Effect of the Potassium Dose and Plant Biofertilization by <i>Acinetobacter calcoaceticus</i> on the Growth, Mineral Content, Nutritional Quality, Antioxidant Activity, and Metabolomic Features of Tomatillo Fruits (<i>Physalis ixocarpa</i> Brot.)
Heriberto F. Ramírez-Cariño,
Carlos E. Ochoa-Velasco,
José A. Guerrero-Analco,
Juan L. Monribot-Villanueva,
Concepción Calderón-García,
Elizabeth González-Terreros,
Cirenio Escamirosa-Tinoco,
Isidro Morales,
Rogelio Valadez-Blanco
Affiliations
Heriberto F. Ramírez-Cariño
Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional—Unidad Oaxaca, Hornos 1003, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca 71230, Mexico
Carlos E. Ochoa-Velasco
Departamento de Bioquímica-Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72420, Mexico
José A. Guerrero-Analco
Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología A. C., Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
Juan L. Monribot-Villanueva
Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología A. C., Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
Concepción Calderón-García
Instituto de Agroindustrias, Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca, Carretera a Acatlima km. 2.5, Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca 69000, Mexico
Elizabeth González-Terreros
Instituto de Estudios Ambientales, Universidad de la Sierra Juárez, Avenida Universidad S/N, Ixtlán de Juárez, Oaxaca 68725, Mexico
Cirenio Escamirosa-Tinoco
Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional—Unidad Oaxaca, Hornos 1003, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca 71230, Mexico
Isidro Morales
Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional—Unidad Oaxaca, Hornos 1003, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca 71230, Mexico
Rogelio Valadez-Blanco
Instituto de Agroindustrias, Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca, Carretera a Acatlima km. 2.5, Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca 69000, Mexico
An Acinetobacter calcoaceticus UTMR2 strain was evaluated in tomatillo plants (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) using a factorial design with different potassium doses (100, 75, 50 and 0% of the recommended dose). In addition to the agronomic parameters, an analysis of the physicochemical, antioxidant, and metabolomic properties of the fruit was performed. The application of the inoculant affected several parameters of the plant (chlorophyll, weight, and contents of several mineral elements) as well as of the fruit (yield, maturity index, FRAP antioxidant capacity, and contents of protein, fiber, and fat). A multivariate analysis was performed by means of a PCA and a heatmap, indicating that the inoculant induced a strong modulating activity in tomatillo plants for the evaluated parameters, with a remarkable effect at low K doses (0 and 50%). The inoculated treatment at 75% of the K dose resulted in similar plant and fruit characteristics to the fully fertilized control. On the other hand, the biofertilized treatment with no K addition resulted in the highest values in the plant and fruit parameters. In addition, from the metabolomics analysis of the fruits at 75% of the K dose, the up-regulation of 4,4″-bis(N-feruloyl)serotonin, salvianolic acid K, and chlorogenic acid was observed, which may have a role in anti-senescence and resistance mechanisms. In conclusion, the rhizobacterial strain had a positive effect on plant growth, nutritional quality, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of tomatillo fruits at reduced doses of K fertilizer, which gives support for its consideration as an effective biofertilizer strain.
