Azospirillum brasilense NA PRODUÇÃO DE MUDAS DE MELANCIA MANCHESTER

Abstract

The use of seedlings in watermelon production has increased significantly in recent years due to the fact that it provides the plant with better performance, as its initial phase is conducted in a controlled environment, giving it better quality. Bacteria of the genus Azospirillum have been very important for agriculture since their discovery, as they are growth promoters, nitrogen fixers, and biofertilizers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of watermelon seedlings under different doses of bacteria of the genus Azospirillum. The design used was completely randomized with 5 treatments of doses of Azospirillum brasilense bacteria (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mL ha-1), four repetitions, 50 seeds per repetition with 200 seeds per treatment, totaling 1000 seeds. To this end, the variables analyzed were: emergency speed index (ISE), mean emergency time (MET), percentage of emergence, number of leaves, seedling height, root length, stem thickness, dry mass of the aerial part, roots, and total. The results showed that inoculation did not significantly influence the speed or the average time of emergence. The dose of 150 mL ha⁻¹ showed a numerical trend for seedling dry mass. Some positive responses were observed in specific variables: the dose of 100 mL ha⁻¹ favored root length and stem thickness, while the dose of 200 mL ha⁻¹ provided a higher number of leaves. On the other hand, root dry mass was reduced at higher doses. It is concluded that the effect of Azospirillum brasilense on the development of watermelon seedlings varies according to the dose and the analyzed organ, highlighting specific positive responses at intermediate doses.