Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Payame Noor University, Tehran

2 Moghan College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili

Abstract

Introduction: The excessive uses of chemical fertilizers have generated several environmental problems. Some of these problems can be tackled by use of Biofertilizer, which are natural, beneficial and ecologically friendly. The Biofertilizers provide nutrients to the plants and maintain soil structure. Biofertilizer is an alternative to mineral fertilizers for increasing soil productivity and plant growth in sustainable agriculture. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a group of bacteria that actively colonize plant roots and increase plant growth and yield. There is a widespread distribution of PGPR that flourishes in different geographical habitats. These rhizobacteria significantly affect plant growth not only by increasing nutrient cycling, also by suppressing pathogens by producing antibiotics and siderophores or by bacterial and fungal antagonistic substances and/or by other plant hormones. Inoculation of plants with Azospirillum could result in significant changes in various growth parameters, such as increase in plant biomass, nutrient uptake, tissue N content, plant height, leaf size and root length of cereals. Thus, it has been shown that Azospirillum and Pseudomonas have the potential for agricultural exploitation and can be used as natural fertilizers. The divers array of bacteria including Pseudomonas, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Klebsilla, Entrobacter and Serratia seem to promote plant growth. These bacteria are important components of the rhizosphere of many plants, and are known to colonize the rhizosphere of wheat, potato, maize, grasses, pea and cucumber. Strains of Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas fluorescens could increase root and shoot elongation in wheat. Azospirillum, Pseudomonas and Azotobacter strains could affect seed germination and seedling growth
Materials and Methods: To investigate yield, yield components and some qualitative and quantitative characteristics of safflower at different planting dates, a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized completed block design with three replications in 2016 at the laboratory of Agricultural University of Payam Noor, Kosar (Kivi) branch. The first factor consists of three sowing dates (5 March, 20 April and 5 May) and the second factor involves the seeds inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (no inoculation, seed inoculation with Azotobacter chorchorum strain 5 and Azosprilium lipoferum strain OF). The climate of studied region is semi-arid with 1350 meters altitude from sea level. Based on the soil test, pH was about 7.1, soil texture was loamy-sand and the depth of top soil was 70 cm. The experimental unit included six ridges of 25 cm in 6 m length. The plant density was 40 plants per m2. Each 1 gram bacteria have 107 no, we therefore used about 7 gr from each bacterium for seed inoculation. We also used Arabic gum to adhere the bacteria to the seed.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the planting date had a significant effect on all characteristics, except brain to grain ratio and the ratio of skin to grain. The effect of seed inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria was statistically significant on plant height, stem diameter, number of main and sub main branches, seed oil and protein percentage. The maximum number of boll per plant, number of grain per boll, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, plant height and protein percent were achieved on the first planting date (5 April). The lowest amounts of these traits were obtained on the third planting date (5 May). The maximum oil percentage, number of primary and secondary branches and stem diameter were obtained on the first planting date and seed inoculation by Azotobacter. The lowest rates of these traits were obtained on the third planting date and no inoculation. Thus, seed priming with Azotobacter and first date (5 March) planting are recommendable to increase number of grain per boll, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, plant height and protein percent and other traits.

Keywords

1- Able G. H. 1976. Relationship and uses of yield components in safflower breeding for high yield. Agronomy Journal. 68: 442- 447.
2- Alinaghizadeh M., Movahhedi Dehnavi M., Faraji H., Dehdari A., and Gandomani A. 2007. Effect of sowing dates on yield and yield components of different spring safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars as a double crop in Yasouj, Iran. International Safflower Conference, Australia.
3- Bageri M. 1995. The effects of planting date on yield and its components of safflower. M.Sc. Thesis University of Isfahan. 61pp. (In Persian).
4- Cakmakci R., Donmez M.F., and Erdogan U. 2007. The effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on barley seedling growth, nutrient uptake, some soil properties and bacterial counts. Turk. J. Agric. 31: 189-199.
5- Cazzato E., Ventricelli P., and Corleto A. 1997. Effect of date of seeding and supplemental irrigation on hybrid and open pollinated safflower production in southern Italy. pp. 119-124. 4th International Safflower Conference. Bari, Italy. June 2-7.
6- Coshge B., and Kaya D. 2008. Performance of some safflower varieties sown late autumn and late spring. University of Suleyman Demirel, Technology Institute, 43: 13-18.
7- Dowling D. N., and Ogara F. 1994. Metabolites of pseudomonas involved in the biocontrol of plant disease. Trends. Biotechnol. 12: 133- 141.
8- Esendal E. 2001. Safflower production and research in Turkey. Vth International Safflower Conference, Williston, North Dokota, Sidney, Montana, USA, July 23-27. pp. 203-206.
9- Etemadi F., Madah Hosseini S., Dashti H., and Akhgar A. 2014. Investigation of the Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on Some Growth Indices and Yield Parameters of Safflower Under Different Soil Salinity Levels. JCPP.; 4 (11) :77-87
10- Fallahi J., Kochaki A., and Rezvanimogadam P. 2011.Effect of biological fertilizer on yield qualitative and quantitative medicinal herb German Chamomile. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Research. 7:127-135.
11- Gholami A., Shahsavani S., and Nezarat S. 2009. The effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on germination, seedling growth and yield of maize. Proceedings of World Academy of Science. Engin and Techno. 37: 2070-3740.
12- Hashim R. M., and Schinter A. A. 1988. Semi-dwarf and conventional height sunflower performance at five plant population. Agronomy Journal. 80: 821-829.
13- Jajarmi V., Azizi M., Shadlu A., and Omidy-Tabrizi A. H. 2005. The effect of density variety and planting date on yield and yield components of safflower. 7th International Safflower Conference. Australia. Juan 18-19.
14- Lyon C. K., Grusman M. R., Betschart A. A., Robins D. J., and Saunders R. M. 1979. Removal of deleterious glucosides from safflower meal. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society 56: 560-564.
15- Omidi A. H., and Sharifmogadas M. R. 2010. Evaluation of Iranian safflower cultivars reaction to different sowing dates and plant densities. World Applied Sciences Journal. 8: 953-958.
16- Pasary B., Noormohamadi G., Darvish F., Haydarishrifabad H., and Mohamad-Hanifi G. 2005. Study the effect of sowing date on morphological and agronomical characters of two safflower cultivars in double cropping in Sanandaj region. International Safflower Conference Australia. Juan 18-19.
17- Pasban-Eslam B. 2011. Drought stress effects on productivity of fall safflower genotypes. Iranian J. Field Crop Sci. 42(2), 275-283. (In Persian with English Summary).
18- Rahamatalla A.B., Babiker E.E., Krishna A.G., and ElTinay A.H. 2001. Changes in fatty acids composition during seed growth and physiocochemical characterstics of oil extracted from four safflower cultivars. Plant Food for Human Nutrition, 56: 385-395.
19- Rahimi A., Jamialahmadi M., Khavazi K., Sayyari-Zahan M., and Yazdani R. 2013. Effects of different pseudomonas flluoresence bacterium strains on yield, yield components and some traits of safflower. Journal of plant eco physiology. 5 (14): 1-16.
20- Sharma A. K. 2003. Biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture. Agrobios, India, 407 pp.
21- Tomar S. S. 1995. Effect of soil hydrothermal regimes on the performance of safflower planted on different dates. Agronomy Journal. 175: 141- 152.
22- Velasco L., and Fernandez-Martinez J. 2001. Breeding for oil qulity in safflower. (ed. Bergman JW, Mundel HH), pp: 133-137. Proceedings of the 5th International Safflower Confrence. Williston, North Dakota and Sidney, Montana, USA.
23- Weller D. M., and Cook R.J. 1986. Increased growth of wheat by seed treatments with fluorescent pseudomonad’s and implications of pythum control. Can. J. Plant. Pathol. 8: 328-334.
24- Zahir A.Z., Arshad M., and Frankenberger W.F. 2004. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. Application and perspectives in agriculture. Adva in Agron. 81: 97-168.
CAPTCHA Image