Potencialidades de las bacterias diazotróficas asociativas en la promoción del crecimiento vegetal y el control de Pyricularia oryzae (Sacc.) en el cultivo del arroz (Oryza sativa L.)

This work was aimed at approaching the potentialities of associated diazotrophic bacteria for the sustainable production of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Relevant topics such as nitrogen fertilization, its relationships with rice blast incidence, and the perspectives of use of associated diazotrophic bacteria for plant growth promotion and biocontrol of Pyricularia oryzae in this important crop are discussed. Associated diazotrophic bacteria have been shown to contribute with fixed atmospheric nitrogen to the rice crop making possible to reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizers, limiting with it the growth of Pyricularia oryzae. In addition, the metabolites released by these bacteria in the rhizosphere make the plague concentration and the disease severity decrease leading to the reduction of chemical product applications and a lower incidence of rice blast under field conditions. Cuban autochthonous strains have the ability to control Pyricularia oryzae in vitro, which confirms the fact that associated diazotrophic bacteria stimulate plant growth and mitigate the deleterious effects caused by this disease in rice.