Physiological potential of green bean seeds treated with Bacillus subtilis

Abstract: The association between beneficial microorganisms and green beans can accelerate establishment in the field. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of seed treatments in different doses of Bacillus subtilis on the physiological potential of green beans. Seeds from the cultivar Macarrão Baixo were used. The study used a completely randomized design in a double factorial scheme with factor A in the treatments: Pelliculation (PC), Pelliculation with Drying (PCD), Pre-Imbibition (PI), Biopriming (BP); factor B, doses of B. subtilis: 0; 7; 14 and 28 mL of a commercial product.kg of seed-1, and a control. The following treatments were applied: moisture content analysis, first count and final germination, electrical conductivity, length, fresh and dry seedling weight, speed index, and final emergence. Analysis of variance was applied to the data and when significant, it was compared using Tukey’s test and polynomial regression; for the absolute control, orthogonal contrast was applied, with p < 0.05 for all analyses. The treatments did not impair seed viability. Vigor benefited with the use of PI and doses between 16 and 20 mL of p.c.kg of seed-1. PI alone had the best performance. Biopriming, associated with B. subtilis, favors the vigor of green beans.