Pseudomonas sp. and rooting agents: A sustainable alternative for fig (Ficus carica L.) production

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria have proven to be a sustainable alternative for improving agricultural establishment and production.This is particularly important for the propagation and production of fig trees (Ficus carica L.), a crop that stands out for the high nutritional value, fiber content, and bioactive compounds of its fruit.This study evaluated the effect of Pseudomonas sp. and a commercial rooting agent on the productive and biochemical variables of 'Black Mission' fig trees in a greenhouse.Before transplanting the fig cuttings, 110 8 colony-forming units mL -1 Pseudomonas sp., commercial rooting agent (indole-3-butyric acid [IBA]), a combination of both, and a control were applied; the crop was managed in polyethylene bags, increasing their volume from 3 to 30 L. Subsequently, Pseudomonas sp. was applied at the same dose each month to plants previously treated with this rhizobacteria.With the combination of Pseudomonas sp. and IBA, there was a higher bacterial concentration in the rhizosphere (61.4%), an increase in the number of fruits (5.2%), yield (67.8%), total soluble solids (6.6%), and P concentration in leaves (14.6%) compared to the control.The individual application of Pseudomonas sp.increased fruit weight (13.4%), as well as polar (7.9%) and equatorial (6.4%) diameters compared to the control.However, the control had the highest anthocyanin levels compared to the other treatments (29.3%).Pseudomonas sp., alone or in combination with the rooting agent, is a sustainable option for improving fig production and quality.