ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF PEAT SUBSTRATE IN FRENCH MARIGOLD CULTURE FOLLOWING INOCULATION WITH MICROBIAL PREPARATION

摘要

The objective of the performed experiments was to determine the dynamics of development of selected groups of microorganisms, and the enzymatic activity of a substrate containing a microbiological inoculum (BAF_1) intended to improve French marigold growth and flowering. The material used in the investigations was peat substrate (pH 5.5-6.0), into which plants were planted and then inoculated with different doses of the BAF_1 biopreparation (1∶10, 1∶50, 1∶100) devised at the Department of General and Environmental Microbiology of Poznan University of Life Sciences. Samples of the substrate, on which experimental plants were cultivated, were collected during the following three phases: the phase of seedling planting, the phase of vegetative growth, and the phase of flowering. The scope of investigations comprised determination of the developmental dynamics and the total number of bacteria, actino-bacteria and moulds using the Koch plate method for this purpose, as well as levels of enzymatic activity by the spec-trophotometric method. In addition, the following plant morphological analyses were performed: plant height, shoot number and length, number of buds and inflorescences, content of chlorophyll, and leaf greenness index (SPAD). Based on the results of this study, it was found that the applied BAF_1 inoculum had no significant effect on the number of analysed microbial groups, or the enzymatic activity of the substrate. The development phase of French marigold was the primary factor determining changes in the number of analysed microorganisms and enzymatic parameters of the substrate. These experiments showed that foliar application of the biopreparation at a concentration of 1∶10 to the greatest extent influenced chlorophyll con tent in plants, while for morphological traits of plants it was the combined soil and foliar application of the inoculum at a concentration of 1∶100. The positive effect of the BAF_1 preparation on chlorophyll content and morphological traits of plants suggests its applicability in order to optimize the culture of French marigold. However, further studies are needed in order to develop a single biopreparation application method and one concentration level having an optimal effect both on chlorophyll content in plants and their morphological traits.