Effect of Microbial Biostimulants on the Morphology and Productivity of Cucumber Plants (Cucumis sativus var. Poinsett) Under Greenhouse Conditions

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of microbial biostimulants on the morphology and fruit of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus var. Poinsett) under greenhouse conditions. Theoretical Framework: Cucumber production is gaining importance among farmers due to its beneficial and nutritional potential; this, coupled with an increase in demand, leads to higher yields and higher incomes in a shorter period. However, new, sustainable alternatives have been sought to improve fruit quality through plant growth-promoting microorganisms. Method: Cucumber seeds (var. Poinsett) were inoculated directly onto the root with 10 mL of the inoculum. The microorganisms used were: Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Debaryomyces hansenii, and Mix (a combination of the three microorganisms). A completely randomized block experimental design was established with 5 treatments and 20 repetitions for each treatment with a total of 100 plants as experimental units. The variables evaluated were plant height, stem diameter, root length, root volume, plant yield, total sugars, and chlorophyll. The data were analyzed using SAS for Windows, version 9.1. Results and Discussion: According to the statistical results, treatment T1 (Trichoderma harzianum) was the one that achieved the best results on the study variables: plant height, stem diameter, yield per plant, quantification of total sugars (°Brix) and chlorophyll, followed by T2 (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens). The beneficial potential of various species of Trichoderma has been demonstrated. They can promote the growth of roots, stems and leaf area in plants because they favor the increase in nutrient absorption (Rodríguez-García and Vargas-Rojas, 2022). Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by reporting the potential of various microorganisms as agricultural production alternatives, which have a lower environmental impact while simultaneously improving economic efficiency and enhancing crop qualities.