Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: THAMIRES FERREIRA RODRIGUES DA SILVA

corn, biological nitrogen fixation, co-cultivation

Maize is the second most produced cereal in Brazil, second only to soybeans. In the 2023/2024 season, its production reached 115 million tons, representing a 10.15% reduction compared to the previous season. To achieve high productivity, the use of fertilizers, especially nitrogen-based ones, is a common practice associated with an increase in production costs. Thus, the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria has been adopted as an alternative to partially replace nitrogen fertilizers in corn cultivation. In addition to increasing nutrient availability, these bacteria help mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses through plant-bacteria interactions and various mechanisms of action, such as phosphate solubilization, plant hormone production, and siderophore synthesis. Among the bacterial strains that promote plant growth, Azospirillum baldoniorum Sp245 and Herbaspirillum seropedicae Zae94 stand out for individually contributing to improved productivity and root morphological characteristics, as well as alleviating biotic and abiotic effects in corn cultivation. The co-cultivation of these strains can enhance their effects on the plant through the combined action of their mechanisms. Therefore, co-cultivation emerges as a technology with great potential for the inoculant industry and producers.