PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF ‘SWINGLE’ CITRUMELO SEEDS INOCULATED WITH Azospirillum brasilense UNDER SALT STRESS

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32404/rean.v13i1.9996

Keywords:

Citrus, Sodium chloride, Abiotic stress, Rhizobacteria

Abstract

Soil and substrate salinity interferes with plant development. Understanding the salinity tolerance of plant species and adopting strategies to mitigate its negative effects, such as inoculation with the rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense, may promote more efficient plant development under saline conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the germination and vigor of ‘Swingle’ citrumelo rootstock seeds under different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations, using A. brasilense as a potential mitigator of salt stress. The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme consisting of five NaCl concentrations (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 mM), with distilled water used as the control, combined with the absence or presence of A. brasilense applied by pre-sowing seed immersion. Evaluated parameters included germination speed index, mean germination time, germination percentage, and percentages of abnormal seedlings, viable ungerminated seeds, and dead seeds. Primary root and shoot lengths were also measured, along with root, shoot, and total dry mass. Salt stress impaired the germination process, delaying germination and reducing seed germination and vigor. The rootstock was sensitive to salinity, and seed treatment with the rhizobacterium was ineffective in mitigating the deleterious effects of salt stress.

Author Biographies

  • Carime Gibran, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV

    Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (UNESP/FCAV), Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo

  • Alessandra da Silva Andrade, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.

    Department of Plant Production, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (UNESP/FCAV), Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo

  • Gabriel Longuinhos Queiroz, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.

    Department of Plant Production, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (UNESP/FCAV), Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo

  • André Caturelli Braga, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.

    Department of Plant Production, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (UNESP/FCAV), Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo

  • Antonio Maricélio Borges de Souza, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV

    Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Agronomy - DAA, Federal University of Viçosa

  • Mariana Martins da Silveira, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.

    Department of Plant Production, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (UNESP/FCAV), Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo

  • Thiago Souza Campos, Environmental Horticulture Department, University of Florida, Gainesville-FL, USA

    Environmental Horticulture Department, University of Florida, Gainesville-FL, USA

  • Renata Aparecida de Andrade, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.

    Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (UNESP/FCAV), Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo

  • Kathia Fernandes Lopes Pivetta, São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.

    Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (UNESP/FCAV), Jaboticabal Campus, São Paulo

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Published

2026-09-25

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Vol. 13 (2026): REVISTA DE AGRICULTURA NEOTROPICAL

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How to Cite

PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF ‘SWINGLE’ CITRUMELO SEEDS INOCULATED WITH Azospirillum brasilense UNDER SALT STRESS. (2026). REVISTA DE AGRICULTURA NEOTROPICAL, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.32404/rean.v13i1.9996