Response of maize crop hybrids, with different transgenic events, to inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense

Abstract

The inoculation of maize crop hybrids with Azospirillum brasilense is an important alternative to increase grain yield and decrease the production costs of this crop. However, there is a specificity between A. brasilense and the hybrid to be inoculated, mainly maize hybrid with transgenic event. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate how maize hybrids with different transgenic events respond to inoculation with A. brasilense. The study was carried out in Candoi, Parana State, in two experiments, in a completely randomized design with four replications. The experiment I, in the cropping season 2014/15, was carried out in a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement, with five hybrids (AS1656 PRO II, AS1656 PRO III, AG9045 RR2, AG9045 PRO and AG9045 PRO III), in the presence or absence of inoculation with A. brasilense. The experiment II, in the cropping season 2015/16, was carried out in a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement, with four hybrids (AS1656 Conventional, AS1656 PRO, AS1656 PRO II and AS1656 PRO III), in the presence or absence of inoculation with A. brasilense. There was no interaction Hybrid x Inoculation for any of the studied variables and in both experiments, i.e, was not verified specificity between hybrids and inoculation. Inoculation with A. brasilense did not interfere in grain yield and yield components of maize crop. Maize hybrids with similar genetic characteristics, however, with different transgenic events present difference in grain yield and yield components.