Plant growth-promoting microorganisms as natural stimulators of nitrogen uptake in citrus.

Improving nitrogen uptake efficiency by citrus in Mediterranean areas, where this crop predominates, is crucial for reducing ground-water pollution and enhancing environmental sustainability. This aligns with the Farm to Fork Strategy (European Green Deal) objectives, which aim to reduce the use of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ana Pérez-Piqueres, Belén Martínez-Alcántara, Rodolfo Canet, Raquel Del Val, Ana Quiñones
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311400
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1825206801861181440
author Ana Pérez-Piqueres
Belén Martínez-Alcántara
Rodolfo Canet
Raquel Del Val
Ana Quiñones
author_facet Ana Pérez-Piqueres
Belén Martínez-Alcántara
Rodolfo Canet
Raquel Del Val
Ana Quiñones
author_sort Ana Pérez-Piqueres
collection DOAJ
description Improving nitrogen uptake efficiency by citrus in Mediterranean areas, where this crop predominates, is crucial for reducing ground-water pollution and enhancing environmental sustainability. This aligns with the Farm to Fork Strategy (European Green Deal) objectives, which aim to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers by up to 20% and to eliminate soil contamination from nitrogen entirely. In this context, exploring the potential of plant growth-promoting bacteria application to reduce nutrient inputs is a promising opportunity. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two Bacillus subtilis strains either individually inoculated or in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on 15N-labeled fertilizer uptake efficiency and physiological parameters. Individual inoculations positively affected tree water potential, leaf chlorophyll concentrations (SPAD-values) and photosynthetic performance, enhancing tree growth. Fertilizer-15N use efficiency increased, as did phosphorus and potassium uptakes. Conversely, no response was observed in the trees co-inoculated with S cerevisiae. Therefore, PGPB can be considered an interesting means to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers in citrus orchards, minimizing the environmental impact and promoting sustainable production practices.
format Article
id doaj-art-8b98338ccb4e4996b6e204e459c077c8
institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-8b98338ccb4e4996b6e204e459c077c82025-02-07T05:30:56ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01202e031140010.1371/journal.pone.0311400Plant growth-promoting microorganisms as natural stimulators of nitrogen uptake in citrus.Ana Pérez-PiqueresBelén Martínez-AlcántaraRodolfo CanetRaquel Del ValAna QuiñonesImproving nitrogen uptake efficiency by citrus in Mediterranean areas, where this crop predominates, is crucial for reducing ground-water pollution and enhancing environmental sustainability. This aligns with the Farm to Fork Strategy (European Green Deal) objectives, which aim to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers by up to 20% and to eliminate soil contamination from nitrogen entirely. In this context, exploring the potential of plant growth-promoting bacteria application to reduce nutrient inputs is a promising opportunity. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two Bacillus subtilis strains either individually inoculated or in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on 15N-labeled fertilizer uptake efficiency and physiological parameters. Individual inoculations positively affected tree water potential, leaf chlorophyll concentrations (SPAD-values) and photosynthetic performance, enhancing tree growth. Fertilizer-15N use efficiency increased, as did phosphorus and potassium uptakes. Conversely, no response was observed in the trees co-inoculated with S cerevisiae. Therefore, PGPB can be considered an interesting means to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers in citrus orchards, minimizing the environmental impact and promoting sustainable production practices.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311400
spellingShingle Ana Pérez-Piqueres
Belén Martínez-Alcántara
Rodolfo Canet
Raquel Del Val
Ana Quiñones
Plant growth-promoting microorganisms as natural stimulators of nitrogen uptake in citrus.
PLoS ONE
title Plant growth-promoting microorganisms as natural stimulators of nitrogen uptake in citrus.
title_full Plant growth-promoting microorganisms as natural stimulators of nitrogen uptake in citrus.
title_fullStr Plant growth-promoting microorganisms as natural stimulators of nitrogen uptake in citrus.
title_full_unstemmed Plant growth-promoting microorganisms as natural stimulators of nitrogen uptake in citrus.
title_short Plant growth-promoting microorganisms as natural stimulators of nitrogen uptake in citrus.
title_sort plant growth promoting microorganisms as natural stimulators of nitrogen uptake in citrus
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311400
work_keys_str_mv AT anaperezpiqueres plantgrowthpromotingmicroorganismsasnaturalstimulatorsofnitrogenuptakeincitrus
AT belenmartinezalcantara plantgrowthpromotingmicroorganismsasnaturalstimulatorsofnitrogenuptakeincitrus
AT rodolfocanet plantgrowthpromotingmicroorganismsasnaturalstimulatorsofnitrogenuptakeincitrus
AT raqueldelval plantgrowthpromotingmicroorganismsasnaturalstimulatorsofnitrogenuptakeincitrus
AT anaquinones plantgrowthpromotingmicroorganismsasnaturalstimulatorsofnitrogenuptakeincitrus