Reduced chemical fertilizer rates and a microbial biostimulant in red habanero pepper fruits (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

Jacel Adame García, Félix David Murillo Cuevas, José Antonio Fernández Viveros, Adriana Elena Rivera Meza, Héctor Cabrera Mireles

Abstract


Background. The habanero pepper is a crop that requires high chemical fertilization to significantly increase its production, such that a significant loss in production is related to nutrient deficiency. In addition to this, producers increase the doses and use of synthetic fertilizers, which can be inefficient, since a large amount of the applied fertilizer escapes into the environment through leaching, contaminating water and soil. Objective. To evaluate the effect of a microbial biostimulant on the size of habanero pepper fruits and their production under reduced chemical fertilization rates. Methodology. The study was carried out at the Úrsulo Galván Technological Institute from May to December 2024. Five treatments were evaluated: T1) 100 % chemical (FQ100); T2 75 % chemical + biostimulant (FQ75+B); T3) 50 % chemical + biostimulant (FQ50 + B); T4) chemical 75 % (FQ75) and T5) chemical 50 % (FQ50). The biostimulant was formulated from a combination of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis FDMC1, Stenotrophomonas sp. JAG2, B. wiedmannii JAG3, Priestia megaterium JAFV4, and P. megaterium AERM5). The response variables were weight, equatorial and polar diameter of the fruits, in addition to the production in weight of the total fruits per plant per treatment. Results. A decrease in fertilization dose from 75 % to 50 % without biostimulant applications reduce the size and weight of the habanero pepper fruits, as well as the production per plant; however, with the applications of the biostimulant and a chemical fertilization at 75 %, the weight and dimensions of the fruit and the production per plant were maintained. Reduce chemical fertilization rates, without biostimulant applications, significantly affected the yield and quality of red habanero peppers. Implications. Applications of the microbial biostimulant resulted in a 25 % reduction in chemical fertilization, achieving habanero pepper fruit production and quality equal to that achieved with 100 % fertilization. Conclusions. Applications of the biostimulant with reduced fertilization rates of 50 % and 75 % in red habanero peppers significantly increased fruit yield and size compared to those obtained without applications. 

Keywords


Vegetables; production; Bacillus subtilis; Stenotrophomonas; Priestia megaterium.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Adame-García, J., Murillo-Cuevas, F. D., Velázquez-Mendoza, V., López-Vázquez, M., Antonio-Vázquez, E., Cabrera Mireles, H. y Villegas Narváez, J. 2021. Identificación molecular y evaluación de bacterias en el desarrollo vegetativo y producción de chile habanero. Biotecnia, 23(3), pp.151-157. https://doi.org/10.18633/biotecnia.v23i3.1480

Backer, R., Rokem, J. S., Ilangumaran, G., Lamont, J., Praslickova, D., Ricci, E., Subramanian S. and Smith, D. L. 2018. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: context, mechanisms of action, and roadmap to commercialization of biostimulants for sustainable agriculture. Frontiers in plant science, 9, pp.1-17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01473

Blake, C., Christensen, M. N., and Kovács, Á. T. 2021. Molecular aspects of plant growth promotion and protection by Bacillus subtilis. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 34(1), pp.15-25. https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-08-20-0225-CR

Bulgari, R., Franzoni, G., & Ferrante, A. 2019. Biostimulants application in horticultural crops under abiotic stress conditions. Agronomy, 9(6), pp. 1-30. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060306

Castillo-Aguilar, C., Ramírez-Luna, E., Wong-Cámara, C. G., Matos-Pech, G., Chiquini-Medina, R. A., Bautista-Parra, S. G. y Palma-Cancino, D. J. 2024. Rendimiento de chile habanero (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) con el uso de diferentes niveles de NPK en Campeche, México. Revista Bio Ciencias, 11, pp.1-12. https://doi.org/10.15741/revbio.11.e1581

Caulier, S., Nannan, C., Gillis, A., Licciardi, F., Bragard, C., & Mahillon, J. 2019. Overview of the antimicrobial compounds produced by members of the Bacillus subtilis group. Frontiers in microbiology, 10, 302, pp.1-19. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00302

Cedillo-Portugal, E. 2018. Implicaciones socioeconómicas por la implementación de programas de sanidad, calidad e inocuidad alimentaria en el sector productivo de frutas y hortalizas en México. Agro Productividad, 11(2), pp.140-146.

Chafai, W., Haddioui, K., Serghini-Caid, H., Labazi, H., AlZain, M. N., Noman, O., Parvez, M. K. Addi, M. and Khalid, A. 2023. Impact of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal strains isolated from soil on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of tomato plants under different fertilization regimens. Horticulturae, 9(9), pp.1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9090973

Cotler, H., Corona, J. A. y Galeana-Pizaña, J. M. 2020. Erosión de suelos y carencia alimentaria en México: una primera aproximación. Investigaciones geográficas, 101, pp.1-14. https://doi.org/10.14350/rig.59976

Cristóbal-Alejo, J., Moo-Koh, F. A., Tun-Súarez, J. M., Reyes-Ramírez A. y Gamboa-Angulo, M. 2021. Efecto de la interacción dual de especies de Trichoderma en el crecimiento de Capsicum chinense Jacq. Agrociencia, 55(8), pp.681-693. https://doi.org/10.47163/agrociencia.v55i8.2661

da Silva, J. M., Fontes, P. C. R., Milagres, C. D. C., and de Abreu, J. A. A. 2020. Yield and nitrogen use efficiency of bell pepper grown in SLAB fertigated with different nitrogen rates. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 43(18), pp.2833-2843. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2020.1783297

Estrada-Herrera, I. R., Hidalgo-Moreno, C., Guzmán-Plazola, R., Almaraz Suárez, J. J., Navarro-Garza, H. y Etchevers-Barra, J. D. 2017. Indicadores de calidad de suelo para evaluar su fertilidad. Agrociencia, 51(8), pp.813-831.

Galindo, L. A. G., Rivas, A. C., Melendez, J. P. y Mayorquín, N. 2020. Alternativas microbiológicas para la remediación de suelos y aguas contaminados con fertilizantes nitrogenados. Scientia et technica, 25(1), pp.172-183.

Gamboa-Angulo, J., Ruíz-Sánchez, E., Alvarado-López, C., Gutiérrez-Miceli, F., Ruíz-Valdiviezo, V. M. y Medina-Dzul, K. 2020. Efecto de biofertilizantes microbianos en las características agronómicas de la planta y calidad del fruto del chile xcat´ik (Capsicum annuum L.). Terra Latinoamericana, 38, 817-826. https://doi.org/10.28940/terra.v38i4.716

Guerrero, V. T. and Guevara, F. C. 2021. Influence of deforestation and environmental degradation on agriculture in Mexico. Journal of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, 5(1), pp.27-37.

FIRCO. 2017. Fideicomiso de Riesgo Compartido. Chile habanero, con denominación de origen [Blog gubernamental]. https://www.gob.mx/firco/articulos/chile-habanero-con-denominacion-de-origen?idiom=es

Jo, H., Lim, K., Ibal, J. C., Kim, M. C., Kim, H. B., Baek, C., ... and Shin, J. H. 2023. Growth increase in the herbaceous plant Centella asiatica by the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria Priestia megaterium HyangYak-01. Plants, 12(13), pp.2398. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132398

Kumar, A., Rithesh, L., Kumar, V., Raghuvanshi, N., Chaudhary, K., Abhineet and Pandey, A. K. 2023. Stenotrophomonas in diversified cropping systems: friend or foe?. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, pp.1-16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1214680

Lephatsi, M. M., Meyer, V., Piater, L. A., Dubery, I. A. and Tugizimana, F. 2021. Plant responses to abiotic stresses and rhizobacterial biostimulants: Metabolomics and epigenetics perspectives. Metabolites, 11(7), pp.1-31. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11070457

López-Gómez, J. D., Sotelo Nava, H., Villegas-Torres, O. G. and Andrade Rodríguez, M. 2020. Yield and quality of habanero chili in response to driving pruning and nutritional regime. Revista mexicana de ciencias agrícolas, 11(2), pp.315-325. https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v11i2.1777

López-Gómez, J. D., Villegas-Torres, O. G., Sotelo Nava, H., Andrade Rodríguez, M., Juárez López, P. y Martínez Fernández, E. 2017. Rendimiento y calidad del chile habanero (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) por efecto del régimen nutrimental. Revista mexicana de ciencias agrícolas, 8(8), pp.1747-1758. https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v8i8.699

Mejía-Bautista, M. Á., Cristóbal-Alejo, J., Pacheco-Aguilar, J. R. y Reyes-Ramírez, A. 2022. Bacillus spp. on the growth and yield of Capsicum chinense Jacq. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas, 13(1), pp.115-126. https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v13i1.2664

Mendoza-Elos, M., Zamudio Alvarez, L. F., Cervantes Ortiz, F., Chable Moreno, F., Frías Pizano, J. y Gámez Vázquez, A. J. 2020. Rendimiento de semilla y calidad de fruto de chile habanero con fertilización química y orgánica. Revista mexicana de ciencias agrícolas, 11(8), pp.1749-1761. https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v11i8.1960

Murillo-Cuevas, F. D., Cabrera-Mireles, H., Adame-García, J., Vásquez-Hernández, A., Martínez-García, A. D. J. y Moctezuma, R. L. 2021. Bioestimulantes en la calidad de frutos de chile habanero. Revista mexicana de ciencias agrícolas, 12(8), pp.1473-1481. https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v12i8.2900

Ottaiano, L., Di Mola, I., Cozzolino, E., El-Nakhel, C., Rouphael, Y., & Mori, M. (2021). Biostimulant application under different nitrogen fertilization levels: Assessment of yield, leaf quality, and nitrogen metabolism of tunnel-grown lettuce. Agronomy, 11(8), pp.1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081613

Reyes-Ramírez, A., López-Arcos, M., Ruiz-Sánchez, E., Latournerie-Moreno, L., Pérez-Gutiérrez, A., Lozano-Contreras, M. G. y Zavala-León, M. J. 2014. Efectividad de inoculantes microbianos en el crecimiento y productividad de chile habanero (Capsicum chinense Jacq.). Agrociencia, 48(3), pp.285-294.

Ronga, D., Parisi, M., Pentangelo, A., Mori, M. and Di Mola, I. 2019. Effects of nitrogen management on biomass production and dry matter distribution of processing tomato cropped in southern Italy. Agronomy, 9(12), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9120855

Sánchez-Sánchez, A., Hernández, V., Hellín, P., Jiménez-Pérez, M., Rodríguez-Burruezo, A., Fenoll, J. and Flores, P. 2022. Impact of low-input management and microbial biostimulants on yields of traditional pepper varieties. AgroLife Scientific Journal, 11(1), pp.196-203. https://doi.org/10.17930/AGL2022123

Shahrajabian, M. H., Chaski, C., Polyzos, N. and Petropoulos, S. A. 2021. Biostimulants application: A low input cropping management tool for sustainable farming of vegetables. Biomolecules, 11(5), pp.1-53. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11050698

Shi, L., Zhu, X., Qian, T., Du, J., Du, Y. and Ye, J. 2023. Mechanism of Salt Tolerance and Plant Growth Promotion in Priestia megaterium ZS-3 Revealed by Cellular Metabolism and Whole-Genome Studies. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(21), pp.1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242115751

SIAP. (2023). Servicio de Información Agroalimentaria y Pesquera (SIAP). Cierre de la producción agrícola. Anuario Estadístico de la Producción Agrícola. Resumen nacional por cultivo y variedad. https://nube.siap.gob.mx/cierreagricola/

Thakur, R., Dhar, H., Swarnkar, M. K., Soni, R., Sharma, K. C., Singh, A. K., ... and Gulati, A. 2024. Understanding the Molecular Mechanism of PGPR Strain Priestia megaterium from Tea Rhizosphere for Stress Alleviation and Crop Growth Enhancement. Plant Stress, 12, 100494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stress.2024.100494

Torres, P., Altier, N., Beyhaut, E., Fresia, P., Garaycochea, S. and Abreo, E. 2024. Phenotypic, genomic and in planta characterization of Bacillus sensu lato for their phosphorus biofertilization and plant growth promotion features in soybean. Microbiological Research, 280, pp.127566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2023.127566

Vocciante, M., Grifoni, M., Fusini, D., Petruzzelli, G. and Franchi, E. 2022. The role of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in mitigating plant’s environmental stresses. Applied Sciences, 12(3), 1231, pp.1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031231




URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v29i2.62840

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.6284

Copyright (c) 2026 José Antonio Fernández Viveros, Félix David Murillo Cuevas, Jacel Adame García, Adriana Elena Rivera Meza, Héctor Cabrera Mireles

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.