# Synergism Between Controlled-Release Fertilization and Microbial Bioinputs Modulates the Morphophysiological Quality of Prunus Rootstock Genotypes

## TL;DR

This study shows how combining controlled-release fertilizers with specific microbes can improve the growth and quality of peach rootstocks, depending on the plant genotype and nutrient levels.

## Contribution

The study reveals synergistic effects of microbial consortia and controlled-release fertilizers on rootstock morphophysiology, emphasizing genotype-specific responses.

## Key findings

- Nutrient availability is the primary limiting factor for rootstock growth, with microbial inputs unable to compensate for low fertilization.
- Under sufficient nutrients, microbial consortia (Bacillus + Trichoderma) outperformed single inoculations in enhancing shoot biomass and leaf area.
- New rootstock selections showed high phenotypic plasticity and better growth responses compared to the conservative 'Okinawa Roxo' genotype.

## Abstract

The production of high-quality Prunus seedling rootstocks in soilless systems requires optimizing the interaction between genetics, nutrient availability, and rhizosphere microbiology. This study evaluated the morphophysiological response of four peach rootstock genotypes (‘Capdeboscq’, “Okinawa Roxo”, “NR0060408”, and “NR0160305”) to inoculation with Trichoderma asperellum and a microbial consortium (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens + Trichoderma harzianum), under contrasting doses of controlled-release fertilizer (0 and 4 g dm− 3 of CRF). Longitudinal analysis (0-120 days) demonstrated that nutrient availability is the primary limiting factor; microbial bioinputs did not compensate for the absence of fertilization due to the metabolic cost of symbiosis. However, under nutrient sufficiency (4 g dm− 3), strong synergism was observed. The new selections (“NR0060408” and “NR0160305”) exhibited high phenotypic plasticity, maximizing the conversion of biostimulation into shoot biomass and outperforming the “Okinawa Roxo” genotype, which displayed a conservative growth strategy. The Bacillus-Trichoderma consortium was superior to single inoculation in responsive genotypes, potentiating seedling leaf area and height. Furthermore, inoculation promoted the “stay-green” effect, maintaining chlorophyll index stability until the end of the cycle. It is concluded that the use of bioinputs, especially in a consortium, acts as a metabolic catalyst in responsive genotypes, but their efficacy depends on adequate basal nutritional management.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00284-026-04793-6.