Evaluation of the growth of Marubakaido micropropagated apple rootstock microbiolized with Pantoea agglomerans

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of the bacteria Pantoea agglomerans to promote growth of
micropropagated apple rootstocks. The bacteria was multiplied in culture media 523 of Kado & Heskett and 24 hours later the bacterial suspension was prepared in NaCl 0.85% and adjusted in OD550 = 0.5, while for control, only saline solution was used. Micropropagated apple roostocks were microbiolized during 1 hour and transplanted
in polystyrene trays containing substratum mixture Plantmax® and vegetable ash at the rate of 1:1 (v/v), plus 0.5ml of bacterial suspension applied in the soil for each seedling. After 30 days an increase of 29.61% in the survival of microbiolized seedlings, and an increment of 50% in the height was observed, when compared to the control. Regarding the fresh and dry weight, in the aerial part, the bacteria provided an increase of 53.09% and 52.94% and an increment of 103.28% and 66% for the root system, respectively. The bacteria Pantoea agglomerans
promotes growth of seedlings of Marubakaido micropropagated apple rootstock and may be indicated to inoculate plants produced by micropropagation.