Biostimulation on cotton growth and nutrient accumulation through inoculants based on endophytic fungi¹

Bioestimulação no crescimento e acúmulo de nutrientes em algodão através de inoculantes à base de fungos endofíticos

ABSTRACT

Dark septate fungi (DSF) are endophytic microorganisms characterized by the formation of detached and melanized hyphae that confer adaptive advantages, including benefits in plant development. This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient accumulations, growth, and production of cotton plants inoculated with different DSF accessions. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design with eight replicates. Cotton plants were grown in plastic bags containing commercial substrate and watered daily. Data were collected over the cycle of plants. Promising results were found in all inoculants; however, those obtained from ERR 26 and ERR 42 accessions provided broad benefits for cotton plants, improving the accumulation of N and P and improving plant growth and production. It is worth highlighting the significant contribution of the ERR 42 inoculant to the accumulation of calcium, which brings additional benefits to the formation and resistance of the fruit cell wall. This information is unprecedented and elevates the usage prospects of this inoculant for the biofertilization of cotton plants. However, further studies should be deepened to attest to its biostimulant advantages in cotton management.

Key words:
Gossypium hirsutum; dark septate microorganism; fiber production

HIGHLIGHTS:

Identification of promising inoculants from endophytic fungi able to stimulate the cotton growth and production.

The inoculants favor the N and P accumulation during the flowering and square formation, in-creasing fruit production.

Identification of a specific inoculant that expressively elevates the accumulation of calcium, ben-efiting fruit quality.