A Novel Yeast-Based Biofertiliser

Leguminous plants, e.g. blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.), are often used in break-crop and crop rotation systems to fix atmospheric dinitrogen to reduce nitrogen fertiliser input and increase yield during production of cereals, e.g. wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The rhizosphere yeast, P. laurentii CAB 91, can influence such systems when it is used as a seed coating agent of blue lupin and wheat, since this yeast can increase blue lupin germination and wheat vigour. Additionally, this yeast promotes higher relative growth rates during the early growth stage of both plants, while enhancing photosynthetic metabolism and water relations. Therefore, this yeast strain might serve as a bio-fertiliser of blue lupin and wheat within a break-crop or crop rotation system.

Papiliotrema laurentii CAB 91 has several plant growth promoting characteristics, such as the production of hormones and growth regulators, as well as the solubilisation of phosphate and zinc. In addition, this yeast is the only strain known to date that can improve the germination, growth and photosynthesis of two plants used in break crop and crop rotation systems.

Papiliotrema laurentii CAB 91 has the potential to be used as a bio-fertiliser of blue lupin and wheat within a break-crop or crop rotation system to increase growth of both plants. In addition, previous research showed that this yeast strain increases the nitrogen fixation efficiency of blue lupin, therefore when blue lupin is treated with this yeast more nitrogen can be returned to the soil for subsequent cultivation of wheat.