GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY OF Moringa oleifera (Lamark) SEEDLINGS INOCULATED WITH PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING BACTERIA

Abstract

Background: The Moringa genus is made up of thirteen species and is characterized by its rapid growth. Studies relating to gender in association with plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are limited. Objective: To evaluate the growth, development, and quality of Moringa oleifera Lam seedlings inoculated with plant growth promoting bacteria under greenhouse conditions. Methodology: The following were defined as treatments: Bacillus niacini; B. cereus, Moraxela osloensis, Azospirillum brasilense (positive control) and an absolute control, which were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. Results: Bacterial inoculated promoted an increase in the number of leaves per plant, standing out A. brasilense (10.8), M. osloensis (11.45) and B. cereus (11.05) (P≤0.001). The plants inoculated with B. cereus produced 0.80 t DM ha-1 of leaves and in whole plant 12.92 t DM ha-1, a value higher than that promoted by the rest of the inoculated (P≤0.01), all stimulated leaf development with respect to the absolute control (P≤0.001), and only A. brasilense and B. niacini favored the length and thickness (P≤0.01) of the roots. Implications: The application of the bacterial inoculated referred to in concentrations of 107 CFU mL-1 is recommended to promote the production of aerial biomass of Moringa plants under greenhouse conditions. Conclusion: Bacterial inoculated promoted morphological modifications in plants that favored growth, leaf quantity and the proportion of aerial biomass with respect to the root, but to a small extent in the accumulation of DM. According to the Dickson index, the inoculated plants were of quality.