Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Improve Growth and Fruit Quality of Cucumber under Greenhouse Conditions
Gerardo Zapata-Sifuentes,
Luis G. Hernandez-Montiel,
Jorge Saenz-Mata,
Manuel Fortis-Hernandez,
Eduardo Blanco-Contreras,
Roberto G. Chiquito-Contreras,
Pablo Preciado-Rangel
Affiliations
Gerardo Zapata-Sifuentes
Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Torreón, Carretera Torreón-San Pedro km 7.5, Torreón 27170, Mexico
Luis G. Hernandez-Montiel
Nanotechnology & Microbial Biocontrol Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Av. Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo Santa Rita, La Paz 23090, Mexico
Jorge Saenz-Mata
Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad s/n, Col. Filadelfia, Gómez Palacio 35010, México
Manuel Fortis-Hernandez
Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Torreón, Carretera Torreón-San Pedro km 7.5, Torreón 27170, Mexico
Eduardo Blanco-Contreras
Departamento de Agroecología, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Carretera Periférico s/n, Col. Valle Verde, Torreón 27054, Mexico
Roberto G. Chiquito-Contreras
Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Veracruzana, Circuito Universitario Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán s/n, Zona Universitaria, Xalapa 91090, Mexico
Pablo Preciado-Rangel
Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Torreón, Carretera Torreón-San Pedro km 7.5, Torreón 27170, Mexico
Cucumber fruit is rich in fiber, carbohydrates, protein, magnesium, iron, vitamin B, vitamin C, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants. Agrochemical-based production of cucumber has tripled yields; however, excessive synthetic fertilization has caused problems in the accumulation of salts in the soil and has increased production costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three strains of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on cucumber fruit growth and quality under greenhouse conditions. The rhizobacteria Pseudomonas paralactis (KBendo6p7), Sinorhizobium meliloti (KBecto9p6), and Acinetobacter radioresistens (KBendo3p1) was adjusted to 1 × 108 CFU mL−1. The results indicated that the inoculation with PGPR improved plant height, stem diameter, root length, secondary roots, biomass, fruit size, fruit diameter, and yield, as well as nutraceutical quality and antioxidant capacity, significantly increasing the response of plants inoculated with A.radioresistens and S.meliloti in comparison to the control. In sum, our findings showed the potential functions of the use of beneficial bacteria such as PGPR for crop production to reduce costs, decrease pollution, and achieve world food safety and security.
