Improving the growth, P uptake and quality characteristics of ‘Lollo Rosso’ lettuce in the nutrient solution by Bacillus subtilis in different phosphorus concentrations

Abstract

The use of plant-growth-promotion rhizobacteria will play a vital role in phosphorus (P) fertilizers management because of the restricted P resources within the world. In this regard, a greenhouse experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) in different concentrations of P (12.5, 25, 37.5, 50 and 62.5 mg L⁻¹) on growth, P uptake and quality characteristics of ‘Lollo Rosso’ lettuce in hydroponic condition. The results showed that the effect of B. subtilis on growth, biochemical attributes and P concentration in plant tissues was significant. So that, only the fresh weight of leaves in bacterial treatments increased by about 21% compared to the control. Without B. subtilis, P application enhanced multiple plant growth indices, P uptake and antioxidant compounds in ‘Lollo Rosso’ plants. The finding of this experiment also clearly indicated that in inoculated plants with a 25% reduction in P consumption in nutrient solution (37.5 mg L⁻¹ treatment) quality characteristics of lettuce such as flavonoids and vitamin C contents and also root and shoot P concentrations were not significantly different from the 50 mg L⁻¹. Our results recommend that the utilization of B. subtilis in hydroponic condition can improve growth, quality characteristics, and P uptake and ultimately decrease the use of P fertilizers, which can be an efficient tool for sustainable agriculture.

Keywords:

• Antioxidant compounds
• bacteria
• hydroponic
• nutrient solution
• P fertilizer

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge Biorun Company for kindly providing Bacillus subtilis UTB96 and Sepahan rooyesh Company (the representative of Rijk Zwaan, Netherland) for kindly supplying the seeds of this research. I also thank the vice chancellor for research at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.

Discllosure statement

The author declares no competing financial interest.

Availability of data and material

According to the rules of the university, the submission of thesis data for paper publishers and other universities is prohibited. So the data is confidential.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz (Ahvaz, Iran) in the framework of funding research project (No. 1332).