Applied Microbiology and Beneficial Microbes

Biography

Biography: Lidia Sas Paszt

Abstract

The Research Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice is the birthplace of Poland’s first bank of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of horticultural plants growing in different soil and climatic conditions of Poland. The most effective strains and species of microorganisms are used as components of the newly developed biological preparations: bio-stimulants, composts, and bacterial and mycorrhizal inocula.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the applied microbial bioproducts on the growth and yield of selected species of horticultural plants. Studies have shown high effectiveness of the beneficial microorganisms collected in SYMBIO BANK in the stimulation of vegetative growth and yielding of horticultural plant species. Some bacterial strains have a protective effect against Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Verticillium dahliae. The use of synthetic NPK fertilizers has been shown to have a negative effect on the occurrence and activity of beneficial soil microorganisms.

The results of the field experiments demonstrated a positive influence of the organic method of cultivating vegetable and fruit crops with the use of beneficial microorganisms on the occurrence of beneficial groups of microorganisms in the rhizosphere of those plants, including increase in the population of diazotrophs and in the population of spore-forming bacteria. As a result of the application of beneficial microorganisms in organic cultivation significantly higher yields of the tested vegetable and fruit species were achieved, with better storage and processing qualities compared to conventional production. Widespread use of the innovative bioproducts in organic cultivation of horticultural crops will improve the quality of yield and soil fertility.