Title: Improvement of bean seed yield and quality using beneficial soil microorganisms in a reduced fertilization condition

Biography:

Patrizia Cesaro is a researcher at the Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Italy. She graduated cum laude in Biological Sciences at the University of Torino, she received a Specialization in Applied Biothecnology with an evaluation cum laude and finally she received PhD in "Environmental Science, internal waters and agroecosystems" at the University of Piemonte Orientale.  Her research has been focused in molecular biotechnology, she has a good expertise molecular biological techniques. Since 2011, Professor of Molecular Biology.

Abstract

Common bean is a legume able to form symbiotic associations both with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium bacteria. Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Billò is an important and valuable crop widely cultivated in North-Western Italy. AMF are known to improve plant nutrition, in particular phosphorus acquisition, and  hence seed quality. Rhizobium leguminosarum is a gram-negative bacterium, symbiont of various species of Fabaceae that is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen.

In this study, 15 different Rhizobium strains were isolated (from root nodules or soil) and characterized by molecular and biochemical traits. One strain was selected for a field trial. The aim of this work was to check, in field conditions, the possibility to improve bean seed yield and quality by means of inoculation with AMF and/or rhizobia under conditions of low fertilization. At harvesting, root nodulation and mycorrhizal colonization were assessed and seed quality parameters were evaluated.

Yield parameters and fiber content were not influenced by microorganism inoculation nor by the reduced fertilization, whilst protein concentration was higher in the seeds of Rhizobium-inoculated plants in combination or not with AMF. Starch concentration increased in the seeds of plants inoculated with rhizobia alone. Mg, K and Zn concentrations were positively affected by AMF, while Mn concentration was higher in the presence of Rhizobia.

In conclusion, an environment-friendly practice like low chemical fertilization can be associated to inoculation with soil microorganisms in order to improve bean seed quality.