Inoculation of plant growth-promoting bacteria on Pennisetum purpureum Schumach cultivar BRS Capiaçu

Pennisetum purpureum (Schumach) cultivar BRS Capia & ccedil;u stands out from other forage species for its high production capacity. In order to improve plant management in the field, it is necessary to standardize the germination/emergence of seeds or seedlings, as well as rapid plant development. The use of plant growth-promoting bacteria is, therefore, a viable and sustainable strategy, especially as it reduces the environmental damage caused by the trivial use of various agricultural inputs. This study aimed to evaluate the germination and morphological and physiological characteristics of BRS Capia & ccedil;u seedlings after inoculation of the stalk/seedlings with plant growth-promoting bacteria isolated from Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. and Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle.) Schweickerdt. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with two evaluations, on the 11(th) and 25(th) days after inoculation. Nineteen treatments were evaluated: 16 bacterial inoculants, two commercial inoculants (Biomais (R) (R) and Biomaphos (R)), (R) ), and one control without inoculation. All treatments were kept in a germination chamber at 25 degrees C, standard deviation +/- 5 degrees C under a 12-hour photoperiod. Bacterial inoculations promoted increases in germination and morphological and physiological characteristics of BRS Capia & ccedil;u seedlings on the 11(th) and 25(th) days after their inoculations, surpassing the control treatment and sometimes resembling or surpassing the commercial inoculums. Bacteria isolated from B. decumbens and with high indoleacetic acid production provided the greatest increases in seedling development. Finally, it can be concluded that bacterial inoculums, in addition to improving the establishment of Capia & ccedil;u plants, are an effective and sustainable alternative to the use of synthetic products, contributing to a more environmentally balanced agricultural ecosystem.