Ortega García, Marisel, Shagarodsky Scull, Tomás, Dibut Álvarez, Bernardo L., Ríos Rocafull, Yoania, Tejeda González, Grisel, and Gómez Jorrin, Luis A.
The availability of microorganism strains with growth promoting effect on economically important species is one of the main aspects for elaborating bio-products, contributing to the sustainability of the production systems. The aim of this research was to select effective strains of Mesorhizobium sp to increase the yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum. L), due to the variability shown by the INIFAT GR-1 strain over the last years, which is recommended in the technical instructions for this cultivar. Positive strains were purified and performed to conduct a morphological, physiological and biochemical characterization of the isolates, allowing the inclusion of two of them in the Mesorhizobium genre. The strain metabolic characterization showed its superiority with respect to INIFAT GR-1, as indicated by the increase in the phosphorus solubilization halo of 0,18 cm, and an increase of indol acetic acid (IAA) production ranging between 7-12 μgmL-1. Its compatibility in vitro with Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megatherium var phosphaticum, and Bacillus subtilis, as well as, with pesticides as Poncho, Celest Top, Gaucho FS-60, Gaucho MT, Yunta, Celest, TMTD, Cropstar and Apron Star was tested. Regarding the effects under field conditions, both strains promotes chickpea growth, development and yield (pods and grains), with values statistically superior to the pattern employed. They were growth in shaker conditions at 200 r.p.m. and 32 0C of temperature with a final concentration of 1011 UFC.mL-1. The uses of the better strains produce the increase of Nacional-29 variety yield in 42 %, in comparison with no treated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]