Maximizing growth and productivity of onion (Allium cepa L.) by Spirulina platensis extract and nitrogen-fixing endophyte Pseudomonas stutzeri

• Published in: Archives of microbiology 2021, Vol.203 (1), p.169-181
• Main Authors: Geries, L. S. M., Elsadany, Abdelgawad Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Acid production; Allium cepa; Amino acids; Ammonia; Bioactive compounds; Biochemistry; Biological activity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Cell Biology; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A - analysis; Crops, Agricultural - microbiology; Cyanobacteria; Diameters; Dry matter; Ecology; Endophytes; Endophytes - physiology; Fertilizers; Foliar applications; Hydrogen cyanide; Indoleacetic acid; Industrial Microbiology; Inoculation; Leaves; Life Sciences; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; Nitrogen; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nitrogen fixation; Nitrogen Fixation - physiology; Nitrogenation; Onions; Onions - growth & development; Onions - microbiology; Original Paper; Pectinase; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Leaves - growth & development; Plant Leaves - microbiology; Plant Roots - chemistry; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - microbiology; Plants; Productivity; Pseudomonas; Pseudomonas stutzeri; Pseudomonas stutzeri - physiology; Spirulina - chemistry; Spirulina platensis; Spraying; Vegetables; Weight loss; Weight reduction
• ISSN: 0302-8933; 1432-072X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-01991-z

The study focuses on the impact of foliar spraying cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis extract and the inoculation with the endophyte N 2 -fixing Pseudomonas stutzeri , and their mixture in the presence of different nitrogen doses on growth and yield of onion under field conditions. Bioactive compounds of Spirulina and Pseudomonas were analyzed by GC–MC and amino acid production of Spirulina by the amino acid analyzer. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN), indole acetic acid (IAA), ammonia (NH 3 ), pectinase activity, and N 2 -fixation of Pseudomonas were measured. Plant height (cm), leaf length (cm), number of green leaves, bulb diameter (cm), fresh and dry weight of plant (g), chlorophyll a, b of leaves, bulb weight (g), marketable bulb yield (t. ha −1 ), cull bulb weight (t. ha −1 ), total bulb yield (t. ha −1 ), bulb diameter (cm), total soluble solids (TSS%), dry matter content (DM%), evaluation of storage behavior, and economic feasibility were estimated. Spirulina extract has several bioactive compounds. Pseudomonas can produce HCN, NH 3 , IAA, pectinase, and nitrogen fixation. The application of mixture with recommended dose of nitrogen increases the onion plant parameters, marketable yield, total bulb yield, bulb weight, bulb diameter, TSS%, DM%, net return, benefit–cost ratio (B:C), lowest cumulative weight loss% of bulbs during storage, and reduce culls weight compared with other treatments in two seasons. Application of S. platensis extract and inoculation with endophyte nitrogen-fixing P . stutzeri enhance the growth and productivity of the onion under different doses of nitrogen fertilizer.