Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (6): 326-339.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-1077

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Effects of PGPR Co-fermented Broth Nursery Substrate on the Pepper Seedling

KONG Bing-bing1(), WANG Qing1, JIANG Biao1, HAN Li-zhen1,2()   

  1. 1.College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025
    2.Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Guiyang 550025
  • Received:2025-10-10 Online:2026-06-26 Published:2026-07-11
  • Contact: HAN Li-zhen E-mail:1148689145@qq.com;lzhan1@gzu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of a bio-nursery substrate prepared from PGPR co-fermented broth on the growth of pepper seedlings under tray-based seedling cultivation conditions, which may provide a basis for the research and development of biological nursery substrate. Method Co-fermented strains were selected through compatibility analysis of four PGPR strains, IAA (indoleacetic acid) content determination of different strain combination's culture, and pepper seed soaking experiments. The optimal strain combination was determined by analyzing the effects of co-fermented broth on pepper seed germination and seedling growth using tray seedling cultivation. The optimal addition ratio was determined by assessing the effects of different proportions co-fermented broth on the seedlings growth during the seedling tray stage. The seedling growth-promoting mechanism was elucidated by analyzing the effects of co-fermented liquids on nutrient content and microbial diversity in the nursery substrate. Result The co-fermented broth of Burkholderia pyrrocinia P10 and Bacillus flexus HGD12 contained 60.84 mg/L IAA, significantly higher than the single-strain culture, which significantly promoted seed germination and seedling growth of peppers under both soaked-seed and tray-seedling cultivation conditions. Adding 15% co-fermented broth to the seedling substrate provided optimal growth promotion for seedlings in the seedling tray stage, significantly increasing pepper seedling height, stem diameter, fresh weight, dry weight, number of leaves, leaf area, and chlorophyll SPAD value by 29.17%, 17.67%, 64.68%, 94.44%, 22.30%, 49.45%, and 17.83%, respectively. The organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, and available phosphorus content of the substrate increased by 11.31%, 20.39%, and 14.14%, respectively. Moreover, the co-fermented broth significantly increased bacterial species richness while reducing fungal community diversity in the substrate. The abundance of Bacteroidota, Gemmatimonadota, Chloroflexi, Halobacterota, Rozellomycota, and Basidiomycota, had significantly positively correlation with substrate nutrient content, all increased; whereas the abundance of Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Glomeromycota demonstrated a negative correlation with nutrient content, showing a decline. Conclusion Co-fermented broth from P10 and HGD12 strains added to seedling substrates increased nutrient content and altered microbial community structure, thereby significantly promoting pepper seed germination and seedling growth during the tray stage.

Key words: plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, Burkholderia pyrrocinia, Bacillus flexus, co-fermented broth, bio-nursery substrate, pepper, substrate nutrients, bacterial and fungal communities