TY  - JOUR
AU  - Giroto, Amanda S.
AU  - Valle, Stella F.
AU  - Guimarães, Gelton G. F.
AU  - Ohrem, Benedict
AU  - Bresolin, Joana
AU  - Lücke, Andreas
AU  - Wissel, Holger
AU  - Hungria, Mariangela
AU  - Ribeiro, Caue
AU  - Mattoso, Luiz H. C.
AU  - Jablonowski, Nicolai D.
TI  - Polyglycerol citrate: A novel coating and inoculation material for soybean seeds
JO  - Environmental technology & innovation
VL  - 34
SN  - 2352-1864
CY  - Amsterdam
PB  - Elsevier
M1  - FZJ-2024-04761
SP  - 103627 -
PY  - 2024
AB  - The microbial inoculation of legumes such as soybeans is crucial for thriving plant growth due to symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation and biological plant N fertilization. Soybean requires microbial pre-inoculation before sowing using the rhizobia strain Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Peat is typical for this purpose, although not sustainable since it is a finite resource. Here, we propose a straight-forwarding route to prepare and apply polyglycerol-citrate polymer (PGC), a biodegradable and fully renewable polymer, as a carrier for Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculants for soybeans. This novel eco-friendly polymer combines the advantages of a polymeric, water-soluble structure based on biopolymers, which can protect the inoculant cells during the seed inoculation process, with protective properties of glycerol for bacterial cells and the contribution of citric acid for metabolic processes. A greenhouse study was conducted using soybean seeds coated with three different proportions of PGC with B. japonicum planted in a sand substrate free of external interference. Comparative results of N content and δ15N signature in soybean plant parts calculated from the natural abundance method associated with viability tests showed equal or superior symbiotic performance and nitrogen fixation rates to peat-based inoculants, considered the gold-standard carrier for inoculants. It ensured the shelf life of the inoculant formulations, offering convenience for farmers and environmental benefits through reduced fertilization.
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:001228486100001
DO  - DOI:10.1016/j.eti.2024.103627
UR  - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1028704
ER  -