Microbial Inoculation Strategies for Optimal Cherry Tomato Production

The use of microorganisms is a promising technique in agriculture to provide greater water and nutrient efficiency for crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of microbial inoculation on plant growth, fruit yield and fruit quality of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) in a protected environment. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with three treatments: (i) inoculation with Bacillus subtilis ATCC 23858; (ii) inoculation with Burkholderia seminalis TC3.4.2R3; and (iii) non-inoculation, with eight replications. The data were subjected to ANOVA using the F-test followed by the Tukey test (p < 0.05) and multivariate statistical analysis for principal component analysis. B. seminalis led to a higher germination rate, increased fruit yield (FY) by 4.3% and soluble solids content (SSC) of 12.33% compared to the non-inoculation treatment. B. subtilis increased plant height (PH) and root mass, FY by 9.56% and SSC by 9.25%. Inoculation increased the mechanical resistance of fruits in terms of compression and puncture. The results of this work indicated that the initial growth of cherry tomatoes was increased by inoculation with B. subtilis and B. seminalis, bringing new possibilities for the sustainable production of this crop since inoculation promoted plant growth, increased FY and improved fruit quality. The study suggests that inoculation with specific strains of B. subtilis and B. seminalis can be beneficial for cherry tomato cultivation in protected environments, highlighting the use of microorganisms in agriculture and their potential for sustainable and efficient crop management.