Beneficial microorganisms as efficient biofertilisers for tomato crops (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill)

One of the main problems regarding the efficient use and management of biofertilizers in agriculture lies in the unknown species present in agro-ecosystems and crop rhizospheres. From the ecological point of view, it is important to know the members of the bacterial population allowing them to be applied as inoculants and enable a positive agro-biological effect on agricultural crops. This investigation was aimed at evaluating the agro-biological effectiveness of Azospirillum sp. on tomato growth, development and yield. The predominating microbial genus in the crop rhizosphere was thus selected and the effect of inoculating it was then evaluated, judging by the crop's response. Results showed that Pseudomonas, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus and Streptomyces belonged to the microbial population of the tomato rhizosphere under the studied conditions, Azospirillum being the most prominent genus. Artificial inoculation of this rhizobacteria caused a positive effect on seedling growth as well as on plant nutritional stage, the agricultural yield being higher in 11% compared to control plants. A high microbial population level was recorded in the rhizosphere of the inoculated plants. Key words: rhizosphere, inoculant, growth, yield