Interaction between sugarcane families and plant growth-promoting bacteria in two crop cycles

The response of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) families to the inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) may show positive or negative interaction values depending on the plant genotype, allowing the selection of responsive genotypes to the association. Based on these precepts, this study aimed to evaluate the response of 27 sugarcane families treated with two PGPB-based inoculants in two sugarcane cycles: plant-cane and first ratoon. Four months after germination, 27 families from crosses between clones of sugarcane were: (T0) not inoculated; (T1) inoculated with Triazo, which consists of a mixture of the strains Abv5, Abv6, and Abv7 of Azospirillum brasilense; and (T2) inoculated with an inoculant called Mix, which contains five strains of PGPB (Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus Pa15, Azospirillum amazonense CBAmC, Burkholderia tropica Ppe8, Herbaspirillum rubrisubalbicans HCc103, and Herbaspirillum seropedicae HRC54). The productivity traits evaluated were the number of stalks, average height, stalk diameter, and Brix. The correlation values between the two cycles were 0.87 for the number of stalks, 0.70 for average height, 0.48 for stalk diameter, and 0.63 for Brix. Differences were observed between treatments for average height, stalk diameter, and Brix. Differences were also observed between families for all the studied traits. Brix was the only parameter that presented a significant interaction between family and inoculant. Different responses were observed between cycles for some families, showing that other factors can also influence the association.