THE IMPACT OF CYANOBACTERIA ON EARLY GROWTH AND PATHOGEN ATTACK IN THE GERMINATION OF SWEET CORN (Zea mays L.)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24246/agric.2026.v38.i1.p1-12Keywords:
biological agent, biofertilizer, cyanobacteria, germination growth, sweet corn (Zea mays L)Abstract
Corn (Zea mays L.) is a major cereal crop, with increasing global demand for direct consumption, food industry, and animal feed. However, sweet corn, usually for direct consumption, is highly susceptible to seed-borne pathogens, significantly reducing germination and seedling vigor. Cyanobacteria are known as biofertilizers and biological agents that offer promising solutions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cyanobacteria isolates on germination, early growth, and resistance of sweet corn seedlings to seed-borne pathogens. Eleven cyanobacteria isolates, sourced from soil and corn roots in Grobogan, Central Java, were tested in a completely randomized (CRD) experiment with four replications. The results showed that isolates S2, S6, and S10 significantly increased germination rate and early seedling vigor compared to the control treatment. In particular, S2 achieved the highest germination rate 6 days after sowing (DAS), while isolates such as S11 consistently showed minimal or inhibitory effects. Cyanobacterial treatment reduced seed-borne pathogen infections, including Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus flavus, and bacteria by 5–9%, while the control infection rate was 15%. Isolates S2 and S10 reduced disease incidence by 40% and 60%, respectively, making them potential biological control agents. In addition, cyanobacteria significantly increased plant growth parameters, including plant height, root length, and biomass. Isolate S6 significantly increased shoot dry weight by 95.6% compared to the control. This study confirmed the dual role of cyanobacteria in promoting seed germination and biological control of seed-borne pathogens. Future studies should optimize application techniques to improve efficacy under field conditions.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
