Fig. 7

Bacilli from high-CK genotypes increase agricultural productivity. 3 week-old S. lycopersicum cv. M82 plants were treated with indicated bacteria (OD₆₀₀ = 0.1), once a week for 4 weeks. Agricultural parameters were measured in M82 mock and bacterial isolate treated plants, just prior to harvest (65–75 days after germination). A Plant height (root crown to main shoot apical meristem) in centimeters. B Number of side shoots used as a measure of apical dominance. C Number of leaves produced. D The average number of inflorescences per plant. E Average yield, expressed as the total fruit weight per plant in grams. F Harvest index (HI), calculated as the ratio between the total mass of fruit yield and the total biomass. G Total soluble sugars were measured using a refractometer and are expressed as °Brix. Boxplots depict minimum to maximum values, with box indicating inner quartile ranges and whiskers representing outer quartile ranges. Lines in box indicates median. Four independent experiments were conducted. Asterisks represent statistical significance from mock treatment in a two-tailed t-test with Welch's correction, *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. A N = 16, p < 0.035. B N = 8, p < 0.033. C N = 8, p < 0.05. D N = 12, p < 0.0095. E N = 9, p < 0.037. F N = 9, p < 0.043. G N = 12, ns = non significant