1. A novel, green, low-cost chitosan-starch hydrogel as potential delivery system for plant growth-promoting bacteria.
- Author
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Perez JJ, Francois NJ, Maroniche GA, Borrajo MP, Pereyra MA, and Creus CM
- Subjects
- Azospirillum brasilense metabolism, Chitosan chemistry, Crops, Agricultural microbiology, Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate chemistry, Particle Size, Pseudomonas fluorescens metabolism, Starch chemistry, Azospirillum brasilense drug effects, Chitosan pharmacology, Crops, Agricultural growth & development, Drug Delivery Systems, Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate pharmacology, Pseudomonas fluorescens drug effects, Starch pharmacology
- Abstract
The study examines the use of macrobeads for the controlled-release of bacteria. Macrobeads were prepared by an easy dripping-technique using 20/80 wt/wt chitosan-starch blends and sodium tripolyphosphate as cross-linking agent. The resulting polymeric matrix was examined by SEM, XRD, TGA, and solid-RMN. The swelling-equilibrium, thermal behaviour, crystallinity, and size of macrobeads were affected by the autoclave-sterilization. The diameter of the sterilized xerogel was c.a. 1.6 mm. The results suggested that ionotropic-gelation and neutralization were the mechanisms underlying hydrogel formation. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) were loaded into macrobeads separately or co-inoculated. Bacteria loaded macrobeads were dried and stored. Bacteria survived at least 12 months in orders of 10
9 CFU of A. brasilense/g and 108 CFU of P. fluorescens/g. Bacterial release in sterile saline solution tended to a super Case-II transport mechanism. Polymeric-matrix release efficiently both PGPB in natural soils, which uncovers their potential for the formulation of novel and improved biofertilizers., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)- Published
- 2018
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