MBSA-MJ1 Increases Shoot Growth and Tissue Nutrient Concentration in Containerized Ornamentals Grown Under Low-Nutrient Conditions.

High fertilizer rates are often applied to horticulture crop production systems to produce high quality crops with minimal time in production. Much of the nutrients applied in fertilizers are not taken up by the plant and are leached out of the containers during regular irrigation. The application of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can increase the availability and uptake of essential nutrients by plants, thereby reducing nutrient leaching and environmental contamination.

Identification of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria That Improve the Performance of Greenhouse-Grown Petunias under Low Fertility Conditions.

The production of greenhouse ornamentals relies on high fertilizer inputs to meet scheduling deadlines and quality standards, but overfertilization has negative environmental impacts. The goals of this study were to identify plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that can improve greenhouse ornamental crop performance with reduced fertilizer inputs, and to identify the best measurements of plant performance for assessing the beneficial impact of PGPR on ornamentals. A high-throughput greenhouse trial was used to identify 14 PGPR isolates that improved the flower/bud number and shoot dry weight of × 'Picobella Blue' grown under low fertility conditions in peat-based media.

Genomic Analysis of MBSA-MJ1: A Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria That Improves Water Stress Tolerance in Greenhouse Ornamentals.

Water stress decreases the health and quality of horticulture crops by inhibiting photosynthesis, transpiration, and nutrient uptake. Application of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can increase the growth, stress tolerance, and overall quality of field and greenhouse grown crops subjected to water stress. Here, we evaluated MBSA-MJ1 for its ability to increase plant growth and quality of × (petunia), (impatiens), and × (pansy) plants recovering from severe water stress.

Isolation of Rhizosphere Bacteria That Improve Quality and Water Stress Tolerance in Greenhouse Ornamentals.

Water deficit stress is a major contributor to the loss of ornamental crop value due to its negative effects on plant growth and flowering. In addition, post-production water stress can reduce the photosynthetic capacity of plants, negatively impacting crop quality at retail and in the consumer's home and garden. While the application of microbe-containing biostimulant products can increase stress tolerance and crop quality, the success of most commercially available biostimulants in greenhouse production systems is inconsistent.

Identification of Spp. That Increase Ornamental Crop Quality During Abiotic Stress.

The sustainability of ornamental crop production is of increasing concern to both producers and consumers. As resources become more limited, it is important for greenhouse growers to reduce production inputs such as water and chemical fertilizers, without sacrificing crop quality. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can stimulate plant growth under resource-limiting conditions by enhancing tolerance to abiotic stress and increasing nutrient availability, uptake, and assimilation.