PGPR and vermicompost consortia improve the phytochemical quality of Capsicum annuum jalapeño peppers

Abstract

Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum L.), a crop of great economic and nutritional importance in Mexico, faces soil degradation and reduced fruit quality as a consequence of agricultural intensification. In response, the use of vermicompost and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has emerged as a sustainable biotechnological alternative to restore soil fertility and improve crop productivity. This study evaluated the effects of PGPR co-inoculation and phosphorus-enriched vermicompost on the yield and phytochemical quality of Capsicum annuum L. fruits, considering their influence on growth parameters and the accumulation of bioactive metabolites under a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement. Eight treatments were established by combining bacterial consortium (BC) inoculation and vermicompost rates (0, 20, and 40 t ha-1), including a chemically fertilized control. Fruit weight, polar and equatorial diameter, firmness, yield and phytochemical properties (capsaicin, phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity) were evaluated. The combined application of vermicompost and PGPR increased yield through synergistic effect, with treatment-dependent variations in phytochemical quality. Furthermore, biofertilization with PGPR at 20 t ha-1 produced results statistically comparable to those obtained with chemical fertilization. These findings indicate that agricultural efficiency depends on the interaction between fertilization inputs rather than on their individual application, supporting this strategy as a promising alternative for the transition toward sustainable organic nutrient management systems.