An alternative to the use of chemical fertilisers with endophytic micro-organisms



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## An alternative to the use of chemical fertilisers with endophytic micro-organisms

29/03/2023 |
SCP

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The Castelló Provincial Council has granted the research team of the Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group of the Universitat Jaume I of Castelló the second year of funding to continue with the project "Nitrogen fixation in citrus fruits", a study that proposes the use of endophytic microorganisms with the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen in crops, as a sustainable alternative to the use of chemical fertilisers and which provides solutions to a major agricultural problem.

The project is led by researchers Loredana Scalschi and Begonya Vicedo of this research group of the School of Technology and Experimental Sciences. It also has the collaboration of Eugenio Llorens and Luisa Liu Xu, from the same group, and the participation, in the first phase of the project, of the students Patricia Gargallo and Verónica Ramírez, from the Study and Research Programme of the UJI, who have obtained the Fundació Sabadell award for best work placements.

The vice-rector for Research, Jesús Lancis, and the deputy vice-rector for Research, Margarita Vergara, on behalf of the UJI; the deputy for Action against Depopulation and Rural Development, Santiago Pérez, and the government advisor, Ramón Martínez, on behalf of the Castelló Provincial Council, visited the greenhouse where the research and technical staff explained details about this project.

During the visit, Jesús Lancis pointed out that "scientific research, with its procedures and methods based on experimentation, is the only alternative that allows us to rigorously tackle the challenges facing society, in this case, a strategic sector for the province of Castelló, such as the agricultural sector". In this sense, he stressed that "the University has the research equipment, laboratories and appropriate instrumentation to carry out this type of study and it is very gratifying to see the trust placed by the Provincial Council in the UJI to promote the competitiveness and sustainability of the citrus sector".

For his part, Santi Pérez explained that this project "is another commitment by the Castelló Provincial Council to support such an important sector in the province as agriculture and, specifically, citriculture". "Moreover, we have to take into account the serious problem that our province suffers with regard to the contamination of aquifers and soil due to the disproportionate use of nitrogen, which is very necessary for plants, and thanks to the research of the Universitat Jaume I and the help of the Provincial Council, we can collaborate in solving an important problem, at the same time as providing a solution to the citrus fruit sector's problem with the use of nitrogen", added Pérez.

The provincial deputy also stated that "we hope that the results of this research can quickly materialise in commercial products that can satisfy the needs of this sector".

**NITROGEN-FIXING BACTERIA**

Nitrogen is essential in the processes of protein synthesis and photosynthesis in plants. The study began last year with the prospecting, isolation and identification of 70 nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria from wild plant species of families of agronomic interest, with high levels of endophytic micro-organisms and optimal growth without nitrogen fertilisation.

The studies in the greenhouses of the public university of Castelló are being carried out on citrus seedlings, which have been inoculated with the endophyte via the roots. More than 10 different species of bacteria are being tested and the results so far are showing that some of them help to overcome nitrogen deficiency.

The results obtained, once the inoculum has been fine-tuned, will allow the crops to remain productive, despite the reduction in the amount of nitrogen fertilisers that is expected to be regulated by law. The crops, in this case citrus fruits, once colonised by this type of bacteria will be able to obtain the nutrients they need and dependence on chemical fertilisation and the problems related to it will be reduced.

The project is structured in three distinct phases: a first phase of prospecting, isolation and identification of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, a second phase of testing and a third phase for the development of a commercial application method. The agreement with the Castelló Provincial Council includes the first two phases, with a total contribution of 67,500 euros.

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