Bacillus aryabhattai as mitigator of water deficit in cotton cultivation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i2.50664Keywords:
Bioinputs, Climate change, Dry spells.Abstract
Cotton production in Brazil faces significant challenges due to water deficit, especially in second-crop cultivation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the bioinput Bacillus aryabhattai (Auras®) on the germination, initial development, and water stress tolerance of cotton plants. The research was conducted in two phases: the first evaluated the physiological quality of five cultivars (BRS 286, BRS 433 FL B2RF, BRS Rubi, BRS Jade, and BRS Verde) treated with five doses of the bioinput (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mL kg⁻¹). In the second phase, the BRS Jade cultivar, which showed the best initial performance, was subjected to full irrigation and a seven-day water deficit regime. The results showed that the 2 mL kg⁻¹ dose was the most effective for root development. Under water stress, plants treated with the bioinput, regardless of the dose, maintained height growth and biomass accumulation equivalent to plants under full irrigation, performing significantly better than the untreated control. It is concluded that B. aryabhattai acts as an efficient biostimulant and water deficit mitigator, promoting greater physiological and morphological resilience in the early stages of the cotton crop.
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