Effects of a microbial consortium on tomato (solanum lycopersicum) growth and yield: Studies in different cultivation systems

Abstract

A plant biostimulant has been defined as a fertilizing product applied to plants with the aim of modulating their physiological functions and thus improving crop productivity, nutrient use efficiency, products quality and stress tolerance. Plant biostimulants, according to this definition, include various substances with bioactive properties as well as plant growth-promoting microorganisms such as Trichoderma and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Plant biostimulants based on microbial consortia may include bacteria from different species, while others may include both beneficial bacteria and fungi with diverse mechanisms of action to provide a broad spectrum of benefits to plants. Thus, the objective of this work was to analyze the potential of a consortium based on Trichoderma harzianum ITEM 3636 + Pseudomonas putida PCI2 to promote tomato growth under different field conditions.