Development of a biofertilizer based on plant growth promoting bacteria

Abstract

J&C Ferreira Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Ltda started its activities in 2016 with the purpose of developing products destined to the agricultural market with the perception of the necessity of attending the segment of organic products due to the increased demand for this type of product in the agribusiness sector. The agricultural sector is one of the main drivers of the national economy and the demand for products with biotechnological packages capable of contributing to a good production of crops and reducing costs to the producers are essential for the expansion of the sector. The beneficial interaction between plant and microorganism has been gaining attention in recent years and is expanding, demonstrating its efficiency and diverse niches in the agricultural sector, being of great global and local importance in the dynamic equilibrium of ecosystems. The use of these microorganisms capable of promoting plant growth presents itself as a sustainable alternative in the search to promote the increase of crop production. Some of these bacteria are capable of promoting plant growth, being termed plant growth promoting bacteria and can be isolated in the rhizosphere or endophytically. These microorganisms are able to promote plant growth in a direct manner with increased availability of nutrients, such as biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), mineral phosphate solubilization, potassium solubilization and the supply of plant growth regulating substances (AIA) or indirectly may occur by suppressing pathogenic microorganisms in the rhizosphere and internal tissues of the plant through antibiosis, competition for space and nutrients, parasitism and induction of systemic resistance (IRS). The IRS has been standing out in the last decade as an efficient form of phytopathogenic protection, awakening a new vision among researchers in the search to promote this induction of resistance through nutrients, phytohormones, amino acids and proteins, which are being rediscovered as fundamental for sanity considering the current use of chemical pesticides is no longer demonstrating high efficiency due to the resistance of some pests and diseases. The use of these microorganisms has been pointed out as a viable alternative for ecologically and economically sustainable agricultural production systems. In view of this, the proposed project aims to place on the market an efficient biological product based on a consortium of plant growth promoting bacteria. Endophytic and rhizospheric isolates of the genus Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp.; Serratia sp.; and other genera belonging to the collection of Microbiology and Biomolecules laboratory of the Federal University of São Carlos, were previously characterized and demonstrated in vitro abilities in phosphate solubilization, FBN, production of high concentrations of AIA, enzymatic and fungus antagonistic activities phytopathogens. The biofertilizer generated in this project has great commercial potential, as it presents itself as an ecological and efficient alternative in the reconstruction of the beneficial microbiota of the soil capable of promoting an increase in the productivity of crops of agricultural importance and being an efficient alternative in the reduction of chemical products that entail environmental problems and have lower costs when compared to other types of fertilizers. (AU)