Biotechnological Potential of Endophytic Bacteria to Improve the Micropropagated Seedling of Variety RB92579 Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Endophytic bacteria may influence agricultural production in several ways, including promoting plant growth. Two experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the combination of endophytic bacteria from the Brazilian Northeast region aims at the commercial introduction of the inoculation of these bacteria in micropropagated sugarcane plants using a temporary immersion bioreactor. One experiment was done in tubes with sterile commercial substrate, and the other was done in pots with soil; both were installed in a greenhouse. A mixed inoculation was performed in six inoculated endophytic diazotrophic bacteria in micropropagated sugarcane plants, variety RB92579. In the experiment with soil, the mixed inoculation significantly increased the shoot dry matter of plants without the addition of nitrogen fertilizer. However, the accumulation of total-N in the tissues showed no significant differences between treatments with and without nitrogen fertilization. The evaluation of micropropagated seedlings showed no increases in the parameters tested. The results showed that the response of inoculation in temporary immersion bioreactor micropropagation is possible, and that the application of homologous strains may have contributed to a better response by the interaction of endophytic bacteria with sugarcane RB92579. Further studies should be conducted to improve the methodology, which indicates a great potential to optimize this process on a commercial scale.