Endophytic colonization of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) by the novel diazotrophs Shinella sp. UYSO24 and Enterobacter sp. UYSO10.

ABSTRACT. Aims Sugarcane is a multipurpose crop mostly used in Uruguay for bioethanol production. It requires high amounts of N fertilization for optimal growth, which causes environmental degradation and high production costs. Previously, a bacterial collection associated with surface-sterilized stems of sugarcane was characterized for in vitro plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. The aims of this study were (1) to determine if selected isolates from the collection are sugarcane growth promoters and (2) to determine if they are true endophytes of sugarcane.