Effect of sett bacterization on sugarcane seedlings under greenhouse conditions

Sugarcane being major a cash crop suffers with inappropriate fertilization practices and excessive pesticide usage which leads in increased costs for farmers and poses environmental and public health risks. Research and practical interventions are critical for maintaining sugarcane yields while minimizing environmental impacts. In this context the efficacy of 40 root-colonizing bacterial strains in promoting sugarcane seedling growth was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Single-node setts of sugarcane cultivar 2009A 107 were inoculated with bacterial suspension (10-9 CFU ml-1) and subsequently sown in a cocopeat-vermicompost mixture. Germination percentage, shoot length, and seedling vigour index (SVI) were assessed at 40 days post-sowing. Several Bacillus and Pseudomonas isolates demonstrated significant enhancements in these growth parameters compared to the untreated control. Notably, four bacterial strains Bacillus inaquosorum strain SRB2, Bacillus vallismortis strain SRB20, Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca strain SRP19 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain SRP20, previously identified for their antagonistic properties, exhibited particularly strong positive effects on SVI. These findings suggest that sett bacterization with selected bacterial isolates can be a promising approach to improve sugarcane seedling establishment and vigour.