Native Rhizobial Inoculation Improves Tomato Yield and Nutrient Uptake While Mitigating Heavy Metal Accumulation in a...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Microbiology
• Plant Science
• Soil Science

Background:

• Biological strategies are crucial for enhancing crop productivity in conventional agriculture, which often relies heavily on chemical inputs.
• Plant probiotic bacteria, including rhizobia, offer sustainable alternatives for promoting plant growth and yield.
• Limited field studies exist on the efficacy of native rhizobial strains as biofertilizers for crops like tomatoes under conventional farming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of three native rhizobial strains (Rhizobium sp. ACO-34A, Sinorhizobium mexicanum ITTG-R7T, and S. chiapasense ITTG-S70T) on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) performance and fruit yield.
• To assess the effects of rhizobial biofertilization on plant tissue nutrient content and the native rhizosphere bacterial community.
• To determine the potential of these rhizobial strains as plant probiotics in conventional agricultural systems.

Main Methods:

• Field study involving inoculation of tomato plants with specific native rhizobial strains.
• Assessment of plant performance (height, stem width, dry weight, chlorophyll) and fruit yield parameters (number, size, weight, volume).
• Analysis of plant tissue for macronutrient and micronutrient content and characterization of rhizosphere bacterial communities using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.

Main Results:

• Sinorhizobium mexicanum ITTG-R7T significantly improved plant height, stem width, and dry weight.
• S. chiapasense ITTG-S70T enhanced stem width and chlorophyll content, while Rhizobium sp. ACO-34A increased fruit number, size, and overall yield.
• Rhizobial inoculation led to reduced iron and copper accumulation in plants and did not significantly alter the native rhizosphere bacterial community structure.

Conclusions:

• Native rhizobial strains demonstrate significant potential as effective plant probiotics for enhancing tomato productivity in conventional farming.
• Specific strains differentially impact plant growth, yield, and nutrient accumulation, offering tailored biofertilization strategies.
• Rhizobial biofertilization can be integrated into conventional systems, promoting crop yield while maintaining soil microbial community stability.