EFFECT OF DN1 BACTERIAL STRAIN APPLIED BY DIFFERENT METHODS ON SOME MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STRAWBERRY CV. SAN ANDREAS (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.)

There have been quite intensive studies on the use of Plant Growth-PromotingRhizobacteria (PGPR) in agriculture. Acidovorax facilis strain DN1 is one of thePGPR commonly used. The effect of DN1 bacterial strain on some morphologicalcharacteristics of strawberry cv. San Andreas was investigated. The DN1 bacterialstrain was applied via soil, leaf, and soil + leaf, for 3 months (once a month) tostrawberry plants. The DN1 spores were prepared with 0.2% boron, 10% cornstarch and distilled water. The bacterial solution was applied to plants at thefollowing day with a hand pump (to leaves; 50 cc) and graduated cylinder (250 cceach 5-liter pot). After 3 treatments, plants removed from pots and data collected.According to the results, DN1 bacterial strain often had a positive effect on themorphological and fruit characteristics. Spraying treatment was the most effectiveway for the stem and root traits we evaluated (crown diameter: 36.87 mm; stemfresh weight: 63.64 g; leaf number: 38.69; root fresh weight: 34.89 g). In addition,soil + leaf treatment had a positive effect on mean fruit weight (23.57 g) and fruitdiameter (27.64 mm). The effect on other properties was also positive, but the rootlength (26.34 cm) was reduced in leaf treatment compared to the control (29.69cm). It is expected that the most effective treatment is the combined (leaf + soil)treatment, while the leaf treatment may be the most effective method on soils withboron toxicity.