ABSTRACT Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can ensure the sustainability of agricultural growth. The objectives of this study were to characterize and determine the effects of Bacillus subtilis, isolate IMA Bs/170005, applied as co-inoculant in the soybean planting furrow. In all treatments, the seeds had been pre-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The experiments were carried out in a greenhouse, and in the field. Different doses of formulated (8.108 spores mL-1) product with B. subtilis (0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.8; 1.2; 1.6 and 2.0 L ha-1) were tested. The isolate proved efficient for in vitro auxin production. Under greenhouse conditions, the response to B. subtilis co-inoculation consisted of an increase of up to 26% in length of the root system. In the field, co-inoculation in the furrow proved beneficial for crop growth and yield and can be recommended. The best response rate was 0.4 L ha-1. At this dose, averaged over 20 and 40 days after sowing and compared to the control with Bradyrhizobium inoculation alone, increases of 5.3% were observed for plant height, 14.8% for shoot fresh weight, 14.1% for shoot dry weight, 8.5% for root dry weight and 6.5% for soybean yield, demonstrating the efficiency of this B. subtilis isolate as a PGPR. growthpromoting promoting PGPR (PGPR Bs170005 Bs 170005 Bs/170005 coinoculant co inoculant treatments preinoculated pre inoculated japonicum field 8.108 8108 8 108 (8.10 mL1 mL 1 mL-1 B 0 (0 0.2 02 2 04 4 0.8 08 1.2 12 16 6 1. 2. ha1 ha ha-1 tested production conditions coinoculation 26 system recommended 0. ha1. dose alone 53 5 3 5.3 height 148 14 14.8 141 14.1 85 8.5 65 6.5 Bs17000 17000 Bs/17000 8.10 810 10 (8.1 mL- ( ha- 5. 14. 8. 6. Bs1700 1700 Bs/1700 8.1 81 (8. Bs170 170 Bs/170 (8 Bs17 17 Bs/17 Bs1 Bs/1 Bs/

Abstract IMA 5801B2RF is a medium to short season cultivar with high fiber yield potential. The genes Bt cry1Ac and cry2Ab confer resistance to Lepidoptera and cp4-epsps confers tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate. The key feature of this new cultivar is resistance to ramularia leaf spot and root-knot nematode.