Background The co-inoculation of soybean with Bradyrhizobium and other plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is considered a promising technology. However, there has been little quantitative analysis of the effects of this technique on yield variables. In this context, the present study aiming to provide a quantification of the effects of the co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium and PGPR on the soybean crop using a meta-analysis approach. Methods A total of 42 published articles were examined, all of which considered the effects of co-inoculation of PGPR and Bradyrhizobium on the number of nodules, nodule biomass, root biomass, shoot biomass, shoot nitrogen content, and grain yield of soybean. We also determined whether the genus of the PGPR used as co-inoculant, as well as the experimental conditions, altered the effect size of the PGPR. Results The co-inoculation technology resulted in a significant increase in nodule number (11.40%), nodule biomass (6.47%), root biomass (12.84%), and shoot biomass (6.53%). Despite these positive results, no significant increase was observed in shoot nitrogen content and grain yield. The response of the co-inoculation varied according to the PGPR genus used as co-inoculant, as well as with the experimental conditions. In general, the genera Azospirillum, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas were more effective than Serratia. Overall, the observed increments were more pronounced under pot than that of field conditions. Collectively, this study summarize that co-inoculation improves plant development and increases nodulation, which may be important in overcoming nutritional limitations and potential stresses during the plant growth cycle, even though significant increases in grain yield have not been evidenced by this data meta-analysis.

O controle químico de Sclerotinia sclerotiorum pode prevenir infecção, e reduzir a incidência e severidade da doença. Analisar resultados de ensaios individuais nem sempre fornecem conclusões confiáveis. Com isso, técnicas estatísticas como a metanálise, pouco utilizada na fitopatologia, podem ser úteis. Basicamente a técnica sumariza quantitativamente resultados de diversos estudos os ponderando de acordo com sua variabilidade. ABSTRACTChemical control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum can prevent infection and reduce the disease incidence and severity. Assessment of individual assay results may not provide reliable conclusions. Statistical techniques like metaanalysis, rarely adopted in phytopathology, may be useful. Basically, the technique quantitatively summarizes the results of several studies, weighting them according to their variability. Thus, published studies and technical reports provided by research entities were analyzed; they contained chemical treatment with the active ingredient fluazinam used in S. sclerotiorum control and its effect on soybean yield. Eighteen experiments were analyzed, totaling Tupich, F.L.B.; Fantin, L.H.; Silva, A.L.; Canteri, M.G. Impact of white mold control by fluazinam on soybean yield in the south of Paraná: Metaanalysis. Summa Phytopathologica, v.43, n.2, p.145-150, 2017. 50 data entries. The variable used for the random effects model was obtained based on the difference between the fungicide treatment and the control (without application). Meta-analytic estimate indicated an increase of 413.9 kg.ha -1 and range from 344.6 to 483.1 kg.ha -1 . Probability of any increase in yield was 89.1%, and for 120, 300, 600, 900 and 1,200 Kg.ha -1 chances were 82.8, 69.6, 41.7, 17.6 and 4.9%, respectively. Considering R$ 50.00 is the cost of a 60kg bag and R$ 170.00.ha -1 is the fungicide cost, the probability of financial return was estimated at 77.1%. Fluazinam application contributed to increase the yield of soybean attacked by S. sclerotiorum.

The Azospirillum is considered one of the most studied plant growth promoter genus. These bacteria are capable of promoting plant growth through several factors. However, the effect of Azospirillum spp. associated to nitrogen fertilization on maize grain yield has brought about controversial results. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the influence of topdressing nitrogen on the effect of Azospirillum spp. inoculation on maize crops through meta-analysis. Data were collected from articles published in scientific journals, obtained from the Web of Science®, Scopus® and Google Scholar® databases. The bibliographic review included only articles with direct comparisons between maize yield in the presence and absence of Azospirillum spp. under field conditions in Brazil. The meta-analysis

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between soybean leaf/plant age and the susceptibility to infection by Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Two studies were conducted in the greenhouse during the 2009/2010 season using the BRS 232 cultivar. The experimental design for Study 1 was fully randomized in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement (phenological stage x age of the 4th, 5th and 6th trifoliate at the time of inoculation), and in Study 2, the experimental design was fully randomized with five treatments (T) and four replicates. The variables assessed were disease severity, number of lesions, uredinia per lesion, and viable spores. In Study 1, it was observed that disease severity was lower when the plant was in the growth stage V6 (11.4%), compared to the reproductive stage R4 (16.9%). The regression for disease severity and leaf age at the time of inoculation showed that older trifoliates on the plants in the reproductive stage exhibited higher severity. However, in Study 2, for trifoliates of the same age on plants of different ages, the trifoliates of younger plants were more susceptible to the disease. It was concluded that soybean plant susceptibility to soybean rust was directly proportional to the age of the trifoliate on a given plant and the phenological stage of the plant at the time of inoculation.Keywords: Phakopsora pachyrhizi, phenological stage, age of trifoliates.Tecidos de folha velha em plantas mais jovens são mais suscetíveis à ferrugem da soja RESUMO. O objetivo do estudo foi esclarecer a relação entre a idade da folha/planta e susceptibilidade à infecção de Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Foram conduzidos dois estudos em cada de vegetação durante a safra 2009/2010 utilizando a cultivar BRS 232. O delineamento experimental do Estudo 1 foi inteiramente casualizado em arranjo fatorial 2 x 3 (Estágio fenológico x idade do 4th, 5th e 6th trifólio no momento da inoculação), e Estudo 2, delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos (T) e quatro repetições. As variáveis avaliadas foram severidade da doença, numero de lesões, urédias por lesão e esporos viáveis. No Estudo 1 foi observado que severidade da doença foi menor quando as plantas estavam no estágio de crescimento V6 (11,4 %), comparado com estágio reprodutivo R4 (16,9%). A regressão para severidade da doença e idade da folha no momento de inoculação mostrou que trifólios mais velhos em plantas no estágio reprodutivo exibiram maior severidade. Contudo, no estudo 2, para trifólios com a mesma idade em plantas de diferentes idades, os trifólios de plantas jovens foram mais susceptíveis à doença. Conclui-se que a suscetibilidade de plantas a ferrugem asiática foi diretamente proporcional à idade do trifólio em uma dada planta e o estágio fenológico no momento de inoculação.Palavras-chave: Phakopsora pachyrhizi, estágio fenológico, idade do trifólio.

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