Peculiar effect of Azospirillum inoculation on growth and nitrogen balance of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Summary Wheat plants (Triticum aestivum) grown in pots and in the field under the Mediterranean climate of the south of France were inoculated with a strain of Azospirillum brasilense. Comparisons with non-inoculated plants grown under the same conditions showed significant responses to inoculation with an increase in the number of fertile tillers, shoot and root dry weight, and root to shoot biomass ratio. The roots of inoculated plants attracted relatively more assimilates than those of the control plants until a late stage of growth (heading stage) but the rhizosphere respiration expressed per unit of root growth was not increased by inoculation. Nitrogen yield, both total and in grains, was also enhanced; however, N percentages of all aerial parts of the plants grown in pots were always statistically lower after inoculation than in the control. At maturity, the N % in seeds was 1.81 and 2.45, respectively. The possible mechanisms of this effect of inoculation under the experimental conditions of this study are discussed.