Article: Effect of Azospirillum brasilense on garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivation

The aim of the study was to study how Azospirillum brasilense influences the quality and growth of garlic cv “Bianco Polesano” An experiment was carried out with 2 treatments: 1) soil inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense (ALO1 strain of the company AZ BEL) and fertilized; 2) soil without Azospirillum, irrigated with water and fertilizer (control). The test showed a significant increase in the agronomic parameters analysed in plants treated with Azospirillum. In fact, all garlic bulbs in which the alpha proteobacterium has been inoculated have shown a significant increase in the weight of the bulbs, the diameter of the bulbs and the weight of the roots. This alpha proteobacterium can also have a positive effect on the solubilization and absorption of minerals present in the soil, especially iron, promoting plant growth, improving product quality, stimulating the hormones GA and IAA and the synthesis of vitamins such as B1, B3, B5. Furthermore, plants treated with Azospirillum brasilense are more resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses of various kinds.