Elicitation of <i>Bacillus cereus</i>-Amazcala (<i>B.c</i>-A) with SiO<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles Improves Its Role as a Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) in Chili Pepper Plants
Noelia I. Ferrusquía-Jiménez,
Beatriz González-Arias,
Alicia Rosales,
Karen Esquivel,
Eleazar M. Escamilla-Silva,
Adrian E. Ortega-Torres,
Ramón G. Guevara-González
Affiliations
Noelia I. Ferrusquía-Jiménez
Biosystems Engineering Group, Center of Applied Research in Biosystems (CARB-CIAB), School of Engineering, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Campus Amazcala, Carr, Amazcala-Chichimequillas Km 1.0, El Marqués 76265, Mexico
Beatriz González-Arias
Biosystems Engineering Group, Center of Applied Research in Biosystems (CARB-CIAB), School of Engineering, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Campus Amazcala, Carr, Amazcala-Chichimequillas Km 1.0, El Marqués 76265, Mexico
Alicia Rosales
Graduate and Research Division, Engineering Faculty, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Cerro de las Campanas, Santiago de Queretaro 76010, Mexico
Karen Esquivel
Graduate and Research Division, Engineering Faculty, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Cerro de las Campanas, Santiago de Queretaro 76010, Mexico
Eleazar M. Escamilla-Silva
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Technological Institute of Mexico-Celaya, Ave, Tecnologico y A. Garcia-Cubas, S/N, Col. Fovissste, Celaya 38010, Mexico
Adrian E. Ortega-Torres
Biosystems Engineering Group, Center of Applied Research in Biosystems (CARB-CIAB), School of Engineering, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Campus Amazcala, Carr, Amazcala-Chichimequillas Km 1.0, El Marqués 76265, Mexico
Ramón G. Guevara-González
Biosystems Engineering Group, Center of Applied Research in Biosystems (CARB-CIAB), School of Engineering, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Campus Amazcala, Carr, Amazcala-Chichimequillas Km 1.0, El Marqués 76265, Mexico
Agriculture needs to decrease the use of agrochemicals due to their high toxicity and adopt new strategies to achieve sustainable food production. Therefore, nanoparticles (NPs) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have been proposed as viable strategies to obtain better crop yields with less environmental impact. Here, we describe the effect of silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) on survival, antioxidant enzymatic activity, phosphate solubilization capacity, and gibberellin production of Bacillus cereus-Amazcala (B.c-A). Moreover, the effect of the co-application of SiO2-NPs and B.c-A on seed germination, physiological characteristics, and antioxidant enzymatic activity of chili pepper plants was investigated under greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that SiO2-NPs at 100 ppm enhanced the role of B.c-A as PGPB by increasing its phosphate solubilization capacity and the production of GA7. Moreover, B.c-A catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were increased with SiO2-NPs 100 ppm treatment, indicating that SiO2-NPs act as a eustressor, inducing defense-related responses. The co-application of SiO2-NPs 100 ppm and B.c-A improved chili pepper growth. There was an increase in seed germination percentage, plant height, number of leaves, and number and yield of fruits. There was also an increase in CAT and PAL activities in chili pepper plants, indicating that bacteria–NP treatment induces plant immunity.