Abstract

The genus Burkholderia includes different species with biotechnological characteristics of great interest such as the degradation of xenobiotics, biological control, nitrogen fixation in free-living and symbiotic and phytohormone production. The diversity and versatility of this group of species is largely unexplored, including the production of secondary metabolites, which may have important practical applications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of seed germination of genotyes jalapeño and manzano peppers, inoculated with nodulating strains Burkholderia sabiae and 5B1. The outcome measures were percentage, index and coefficient of emergence. The results show that there is an increase in seed germination of aproximately 100% chili peppers jalapeño and 50% in manzano, inoculated with strain B. sabiae. Besides the increase in germination of seeds by B. sabiae strain, another feature of great biotechnological interest in this strain was also detected, which is the production of indoles. Based on these results, it is suggested that this strain can be used as an alternative for production of biofertilizers.

Key words: Capsicum, germination, seeds, Burkholderia.