| Abstract: | Microbes that are beneficial to plants are used toenhance the crop growth, yield and are alternatives to chemicalfertilizers. Trichoderma and Bacillus are the predominant plantgrowth-promoting fungi and bacteria. The objective of this studywas select, characterize, and evaluate isolates of Trichodermaspp. and Bacillus spp. native from the northern region of Sinaloa,Mexico, and assess their effect on growth promotion in maize (Zeamays L.). In greenhouse conditions, four Trichoderma isolates andtwenty Bacillus isolates, as well as two controls, were tested in acompletely randomized design with three replicates. We selectedthe two best strains of Trichoderma and Bacillus: TB = Trichodermaasperellum, TF = Trichoderma virens, B14 = Bacillus cereus sensulato and B17 = Bacillus cereus, which were evaluated in the field ina completely randomized blocks in factorial arrangement designwith three replicates applying different rates of nitrogen fertilizer(0, 150 kg N/ha, and 300 kg N/ha). Treatments 5 (B17 = B. cereus)and 11 (TF = T. virens) both fertilized with 150 kg N/ha showedsimilar yields and they did not reveal significant differences fromthe treatments fertilized with 300 kg N/ha. This indicated thattreatment 5 (B17= B. cereus with 150 kg N/ha) and treatment11 (TF= T. virens with 150 kg N/ha) were efficient as growthpromoters, by not showing significant differences in root volumeand dry weight of foliage. The results indicated a reduction of 50%in the rate of nitrogen to fertilizer required for maize (Zea maysL.) crops. These microorganisms Trichoderma and Bacillus couldbe an alternative to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in maize. |
