The response of different potato cultivars to plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) and chemical fertilizers in aeroponic culture conditions

Optimization of nutrients in an aeroponic culture system is the most important factor for the quantitative and qualitative production of healthy potato seeds. This study was conducted in Ardabil agricultural center and natural resources greenhouse in an aeroponic culture system in 2019–2020. The study was based on a completely factorial randomized design. The reactions of the seedlings of three cultivars of potato (Agria, Banba, Caesar) to the combination of three bacterial inoculants (PGPRs) (Azospirillum lipoform, Pseudomonas putida, Aztobacter crococum), and two stages of chemical fertilizer nutrition were investigated. We found out that the maximum number and weight of mini-tuber per plant was obtained in cv. Banba. The maximum number of stolons, the number of days up to tuberization, and the maximum average weight of minitubers were achieved by applying the chemical fertilizer. PGPRs had a significant impact on the increase in the plant height and on the length of stolon in cv. Banba. The largest plant height and number of days up to tuberization were achieved in the cv. Caesar, and the greatest number of stolons was obtained in cv. Banba. We concluded that the application of the chemical fertilizer in aeroponic culture system promoted the potato yield.