The effect of a preparation based on Bacillus subtilis bacteria on the growth and productivity of tomatoes in closed ground conditions

Relevance.  In accordance with scientifically based nutrition standards in Russia, it is necessary to produce about 17 million tons of vegetable products, however, the provision has been achieved only for 8-11% of the country's population. Given the high need for vegetable products, as well as the popularity of tomatoes, the search for promising ways to increase tomato yields is currently relevant. One possible environmentally friendly way is to use biologics. The purpose of the study is to study the effect of the drug "Naturost" (Bacillus subtilis) on the growth and productive indicators of tomato.

Materials and Methods. The experiment was staged in a polycarbonate greenhouse in 2021-2023. (Manych tomato) and within the framework of production experience (Prodezo F1 tomato) – in 2023. The studied drug "Naturost" was introduced twice: under the root system during transplantation and along the phyllosphere by spraying plants. The studies evaluated the height of the plants, the number of flowers and buds, the number and weight of fruits. Harvesting of fruits and their assessment in the conditions of a polycarbonate greenhouse was carried out as the fruits were browned, in the production experience – twice a week.

Results. Application of the drug "Naturost" increased tomato plant height and flower number by 5–13% and 2.0–3.4 times under polycarbonate greenhouse conditions. The total number of fruits in the variant with the application of the drug was higher than the control by 1.9–3.7 times, the productivity of the crop – by 50–117%. The results of the production experiment demonstrated a less significant effect of the drug in strictly controlled and adjusted hydroponic tomato cultivation conditions: differences in plant height and yield reach only 3–4%. Probably, the main mechanism of activation of tomato growth during the application of the microbial preparation "Naturost" is to increase the resistance of plants to unfavorable cultivation conditions.

1. Chusovitina K.A., Cikareva O.S. Biological characteristics of tomato. 2022;(2):26-28. https://elibrary.ru/tgmvjw (In Russ.)

2. Titova L.V., Borodin V.S. Phenology of the development of hybrids of cherry tomato in extended cultivation. Nauka i Obrazovanie. 2024;(1)7:1-6. https://elibrary.ru/ngdekd (In Russ.)

3. Terekhova V.I., Dyikanova M.E., Vorob’ev M.V., Bocharova M.A. Effect of foliar fertilization with organic preparations on tomato quality and yield. Izvestiya of timiryazev agricultural academy. 2024;(4):102-115. https://doi.org/10.26897/0021-342X-2024-4-102-115 https://elibrary.ru/bbqsss (In Russ.)

4. Méndez-Carmona J.Y., Ascacio-Valdes J.A., Alvarez-Perez O.B., Hernández-Almanza A.Y., Ramírez-Guzman N., Sepúlveda L., Aguilar-González M.A., Ventura-Sobrevilla J. M., Aguilar C. N. Tomato waste as a bioresource for lycopene extraction using emerging technologies. Food Bioscience. 2022;49:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2022.101966

5. Akhmedova P.M. The influence of biological products on economically valuable indicators in the production of tomatoes of domestic selection in open ground conditions of the Republic of Dagestan. Vegetable crops of Russia. 2024;(2):65-70. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18619/2072-9146-2024-2-65-70 https://elibrary.ru/yusdzy

6. Kozlova I.V. State and prospects of development of tomato breeding in modern market conditions. Vegetable crops of Russia. 2021;(5):11-15. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18619/2072-9146-2021-5-11-15 https://elibrary.ru/mguzio

7. Passport of the state program (comprehensive program) of the Russian Federation «State program of agricultural development and regulation of markets of agricultural products, raw materials and food» (Government of RF 24.12.2022 MM-P11-22479). Federal project «Development of vegetable and potato sectors», 2023-2030. Access mode: https://www.consultant.ru (date of request 20.03.2025). (In Russ.)

8. Mustafaev G.M., Gadzhieva A.M., Sapukova A.CH. Impact of different agricultural techniques on the ripening time and yield of tomatoes. MelGU. 2024; 92-99. (In Russ.) https://elibrary.ru/yiawbs

9. Pershakova T.V., Yakovleva T.V., Kotvitskaya D.V. Current trends and prospects of providing the Russian population with vegetable products. Fruit growing and viticulture of South Russia. 2024;(4)88:72-86. https://doi.org/10.30679/2219-5335-2024-4-88-72-86 (In Russ.)

10. Engalychev M.R., Dzhos E.A., Matyukina A.A., Verba O.V., Demidenko E.V., Sosnov V.S., Rubtsov A.А. Tomato breeding for open ground in the south of Russia. Vegetable crops of Russia. 2024;(2):5-11. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18619/2072-9146-2024-2-5-11 https://elibrary.ru/apghyx

11. Yakovleva T.V., Pershakova T.V., Chernyavskaya Y.N. Modern production and storage features of tomatoes in Russia. Fruit growing and viticulture of South Russia. 2024;90(6):134-152. https://doi.org/10.30679/2219-5335-2024-6-90-134-152 https://elibrary.ru/hykbkt (In Russ.)

12. Struchalina EV, Sokolova LM. Evaluation of tomato source material to a complex of pathogens and search for sources of resistance for breeding in the Volgograd region. Agroscience. 2025;(1)3:38-50. https://doi.org/10.24412/2949-2211-2025-3-1-38–50 https://elibrary.ru/mysbtx. (in Russ.)

13. Shneyder Yu.A., Karimova E.V., Prikhodko Yu.N., Lozovaya E.N., Zhivaeva T.S. Tomato viruses especially dangerous for vegetable growing of Russia. Potato and vegetables. 2021;(6):3–8. https://doi.org/10.25630/PAV.2021.93.45.001 https://elibrary.ru/jkrhlc (In Russ.)

14. Sadovina A.A., Maryina-Chermnykh O.G. Influence of biological preparations on seed infection and seed quality of tomatoes. Vestnik of the Mari State University. Chapter “Agriculture. Economics”. 2020;(6)2:193-197. https://doi.org/10.30914/2411-9687-2020-6-2-193-197 https://elibrary.ru/zfxwdm (In Russ.)

15. Platonov A.V., Rassokhina I.I., Ilina L.A., Yildirim E.A., Laptev G.Yu. Substantiation of the Possibility of using an Experimental Biological Prepara-tion in Barley Cultivation. Siberian Journal of Life Sciences and Agriculture. 2024:(16)2:271-291. https://doi.org/10.12731/2658-6649-2024-16-2-809 https://elibrary.ru/eqcklf (In Russ.)

16. Platonov A.V., Rassokhina I.I., Eregina S.V. Modification in productivity and nutritive value of pea-oat grass mixture influenced by biopreparations based on Bacillus bacteria. Trudy Kubanskogo gosudarstvennogo agrarnogo universiteta. 2024;(113):220-225. https://doi.org/10.21515/1999-1703-113-220-225 (In Russ.)

17. Miljakovic D., Marinkovic J., Balesevic–Tubic S. The significance of Bacillus spp. in disease suppression and growth promotion of field and vegetable crops. Microorganisms. 2020;(8)7:1-19. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8071037

18. Samaras A., Roumeliotis E., Ntasiou P., Karaoglanidis G. Bacillus subtilis MBI600 Promotes Growth of Tomato Plants and Induces Systemic Resistance Contributing to the Control of Soilborne Pathogens. Plants. 2021;10(6):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061113

19. Venancio W.S., Gomes J.M., Nakatani A.S., Araujo M.H. and R.S. Lettuce Production under Reduced Levels of N-fertilizer in the Presence of Plant Growth-promoting Bacillus spp. Bacteria. J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2019;13(4):1941-1952. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.13.4.06

20. Ortega-García M., Ríos-Rocafull Y., Zelaya-Molina L.X., Ruíz-Ramírez S., Zaldívar-López H.A., Chávez-Díaz I.F. Bioprospecting a mountain-derived phosphorus-solubilizing bacterium: Bacillus thuringiensis B3 as a plant-growth promoter in lettuce and tomato horticultural crops, Scientia Horticulturae. 2024;337:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113568

21. State register of varieties and hybrids of agricultural plants approved for use. Access mode: https://gossortrf.ru/registry/gosudarstvennyy-reestr-selektsionnykh-dostizheniy-dopushchennykh-kispolzovaniyu-tom-1-sorta-rasteni (date of request 20.03.2025). (In Russ.).

22. Reference and information portal "Weather and climate" 2004-2025. Access mode: http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/history/27037_2.htm (date of request 02.02.2025). (In Russ.).