Nanozinc and plant growth-promoting bacteria improve biochemical and metabolic attributes of maize in tropical Cerrado.

INTRODUCTION

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) could be developed as a sustainable strategy to promote plant growth and yield to feed the ever-growing global population with nutritious food. Foliar application of nano-zinc oxide (ZnO) is an environmentally safe strategy that alleviates zinc (Zn) malnutrition by improving biochemical attributes and storage proteins of grain.

METHODS

In this context, the current study aimed to investigate the combined effect of seed inoculation with PGPBs and foliar nano-ZnO application on the growth, biochemical attributes, nutrient metabolism, and yield of maize in the tropical savannah of Brazil. The treatments consisted of four PGPB inoculations [i.e., without inoculation () () (), which was applied on the seeds] and two doses of Zn (i.e., 0 and 3 kg ha, applied from nano-ZnO in two splits on the leaf).

RESULTS

Inoculation of with foliar ZnO application increased shoot dry matter (7.3 and 9.8%) and grain yield (17.1 and 16.7%) in 2019-20 and 2020-2021 crop seasons respectively. Inoculation with A. brasilense increased 100-grains weight by 9.5% in both crop seasons. Shoot Zn accumulation was improved by 30 and 51% with inoculation of P. fluorescens in 2019-20 and 2020-2021 crop seasons. Whereas grain Zn accumulation was improved by 49 and 50.7% with inoculation of and P. fluorescens respectively. In addition, biochemical attributes (chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoids, total soluble sugar and amino acids) were improved with inoculation of along with foliar nano ZnO application as compared to other treatments. Co-application of P. fluorescens with foliar ZnO improved concentration of grains albumin (20 and 13%) and globulin (39 and 30%). Also, co-application of and foliar ZnO improved concentration of grains glutelin (8.8 and 8.7%) and prolamin (15 and 21%) in first and second seasons.

DISCUSSION

Therefore, inoculation of and with foliar nano-ZnO application is considered a sustainable and environmentally safe strategy for improving the biochemical, metabolic, nutritional, and productivity attributes of maize in tropical Savannah regions.