Use of bacterial inoculation to improve vegetative growth and nutraceutical qualities of Chinese cabbage under regulated agroecosystem conditions

Abstract

Abstract. In recent years, plant inoculation with beneficial plant growth-promoting microorganisms PGPR bacteria in agriculture has been steadily increasing, and they are expected to partially replace chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other growth regulators in the future, providing an environmentally friendly solution for sustainable farming practices. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial inoculation of Bacillus cereus to improve the vegetative growth and nutraceutical qualities of Chinese cabbage pak-choi plants grown by hydroponics under regulated agroecosystem conditions. Objects of the study are the plants of Chinese cabbage pak-choy (Brassica campestris ssp. cheninsis L.). Methods. When conducting research, we measured biometric indicators, determined the indicators of crude, dry matter, dietary fiber and mass fraction of ash of pak-choy plants according to GOST. The contents of vitamins, cations, anions and amino acids in plant products were estimated by capillary electrophoresis using “Kapel’-205” device (Russia). The obtained results were processed statistically by means of analysis of variance. Scientific novelty. The efficiency of root inoculation of Bacillus cereus bacteria in the cultivation of pak-choy plants by hydroponics in closed agro-ecosystems has been determined. The dependence of the improvement of quality indicators in the biomass of bacterial inoculation of pak-choi plants has been established. Results. As a result of studies, it was found that the inoculation of B. cereus had a positive effect on the development of the assimilating apparatus of pak-choi plants. The formation of the main morpho-biometric parameters (crude, dry weight, shoot length and number of leaves) of plants was not significantly affected by bacterial inoculation. All obtained values were at the control level. Pak-choi plants inoculated with bacteria showed a significant increase in concentration of mineral elements (K, S and P), amino acids (proline, phenylalanine, valine, histidine and lysine) and vitamins (ascorbic acid and choline).