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Abstract
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Plants respond differently to water-deficit stress conditions in the soil. In order to study water-deficit stress and plant probiotic bacteria effects on some morphological characteristics of chicory, an experiment was conducted as split plot based on randomaized complete block design with three replications at research farm, agricultural faculty of Azarbaijan, Shahid Madani University, Tabriz-Iran in 2022. Three irrigation regimes (Irrigation at the field capacity, irrigation at the 35% and 15% of total available soil water content) as the main plot and probiotic barteria (Azospirilum spp. + Pseudomonas spp., Paenibacillus polymyxa App1, and Serratia odorifera AzSo1) as the subplot were applied on chicory plants. Results indicated that different irrigation regimes had a significant effect on the morphological characteristics in chicory. The lowest lateral roots number, dry weight of roots, height, and lateral shoots number were related to severe water-deficit stress in the soil. In contrast, the highest main root length resulted from severe water-deficit stress in the soil. Application of plant growth promoting bacteria especially Azospirillum spp. + Pseudomonas spp. and P. polymyxa caused a significant increase in morphological characteristics compared with control. Interaction effects between irrigation regimes and plant growth promoting bacteria on morphological characteristics was significant; however, lateral shoots were not affected significantly. Minimum reduction in morphological characteristics occurred when P. polymyxa and Azospirillum spp. + Pseudomonas spp. were applied on chicory plants even at the severe water-deficit stress due to induced tolerance to water-deficit stress conditions.
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