Effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the growth of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the growth and production of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.).

Design/Methodology/Approach: Twelve strains of PGPR were evaluated in habanero pepper seeds of the orange variety. The species of PGPR were Rhizobium leguminosarum: (CP Méx 46), Pseudomonas spp: (P fluorescens, C2, A7, A9, A9m, Avm); Azospirillum, (Sp7, Sp 59, UAP 40, UAP154), plus a control treatment, giving a total of 13 treatments. The study variables were seedling emergence (SE), plant height (PH), white fruit incidence (WFI), virotic plants (VP), days to flowering (DF) and fresh fruit yield (FFY). The experimental design was random blocks with four repetitions.

Results: An effect on the growth of habanero pepper from PGPRs was found in all the variables studied. Seedling emergence and their height was favored by strains Sp9 (84.16%) and A7 (73.44). The number of white flies decreased with the inoculation of CP Méx 46, while the incidence of virosis decreased in plants inoculated with SP9 (32.00%). The highest yield of fresh fruit was found in plants with the strain AVM with 16636 kg ha^-1.

Findings/Conclusions: The effect of inoculation with PGPR is in function of the strain used and the study variable, growth stage and development stage of the habanero pepper plant.