A successful microbial inoculant can increase root colonization and establish a positive interaction with native microorganisms to promote growth and productivity of cereal crops. Zinc (Zn) is an intensively reported deficient nutrient for maize and wheat production in Brazilian Cerrado. It can be sustainably managed by inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria and their symbiotic association with other microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Azospirillum brasilense inoculation and residual Zn rates on root colonization and grain yield of maize and wheat in succession under the tropical conditions of Brazil. These experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with four replications and arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of five Zn rates (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 kg ha-1) applied from zinc sulfate in maize and residual on wheat and without and with seed inoculation of A. brasilense. The results indicated that root colonization by AMF and DSE in maize-wheat cropping system were significantly increased with interaction of Zn rates and inoculation treatments. Inoculation with A. brasilense at residual Zn rates of 4 kg ha-1 increased root colonization by AMF under maize cultivation. Similarly, inoculation with A. brasilense at residual Zn rates of 2 and 4 kg ha-1 reduced root colonization by DSE under wheat in succession. The leaf chlorophyll index and leaf Zn concentration were increased with inoculation of the A. brasilense and residual Zn rates. The inoculation did not influence AMF spore production and CO2-C in both crops. The grain yield and yield components of maize-wheat were increased with the inoculation of A. brasilense under residual Zn rates of 3 to 4 kg ha-1 in tropical savannah conditions. Inoculation with A. brasilense under residual Zn rates up to 4 kg ha-1 promoted root colonization by AMF and DSE in the maize cropping season. While the inoculation with A. brasilense under 2 and 4 kg ha-1 residual Zn rates reduced root colonization by AMF and DSE in the wheat cropping season. Therefore, inoculation with A. brasilense in combination with Zn fertilization could consider a sustainable approach to increase the yield and performance of the maize-wheat cropping system in the tropical savannah conditions of Brazil.
Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhiza; Triticum aestivum L.; Zea mays L.; dark septate endophytes; microbiomes; zinc fertilization.