Isolation and prospection of diazotrophic rhizobacteria associated with sugarcane under organic management

Abstract Microorganisms associated with organic management are essential in nutrient transformation and release for plant use. The present study aimed to isolate, identify and characterize plant growth promoting diazotrophic rhizobacteria associated with sugarcane under organic management. Rhizospheres of organic sugarcane varieties IAC 911099 and CTC4 were sampled and inoculated onto nitrogen free NFb and Burk media. The isolated microorganisms were screened in vitro concerning their ability to produce plant growth promoting factors. Eighty-one bacteria were isolated; 45.6% were positive for the nifH gene and produced at least one of the evaluated plant growth promotion factors. The production of indole-3-acetic acid was observed in 46% of the isolates, while phosphate solubilization was observed in 86.5%. No isolates were hydrogen cyanide producers, while 81% were ammonia producers, 19% produced cellulases and 2.7%, chitinases. Microorganisms belonging to the Burkholderia genus were able to inhibit Fusarium moniliforme growth in vitro. Plant growth promoting microorganisms associated with organic sugarcane, especially belonging to Burkholderia, Sphingobium, Rhizobium and Enterobacter genera, can be environmentally friendly alternatives to improve sugarcane production