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The synergistic interplay between plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and elite cauliflower cultivars presents a sustainable approach to enhance crop productivity and nutritional quality. This study evaluated the interactive effects of three Bacillus strains ( B. subtilis, B. thuringiensis, and B. pumilus ) on vegetative growth, reproductive yield, and bioactive compound accumulation in three cauliflower cultivars (‘Lucky’, ‘White Beauty’, and ‘Snow Drift’). Significant genetic variability was observed among cultivars, with ‘Lucky’ consistently outperforming others across all parameters, exhibiting maximum plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content, curd dimensions, and yield attributes. Among PGPB strains, B. subtilis proved to be the most effective, significantly enhancing vegetative development, reproductive performance, and bioactive compound accumulation, followed by B. thuringiensis . To our knowledge, this study provides the first empirical evidence that cultivar-specific compatibility with B. subtilis amplifies flavonoid accumulation by 46% and curd dry weight by 33.3% in cauliflower, suggesting that this synergistic pair represents a promising strategy for sustainable vegetable production. Novel cultivar-specific synergistic interactions were uncovered: the combination of ‘Lucky’ with B. subtilis produced the highest total yield and maximum anthocyanin accumulation, while ‘White Beauty’ paired with B. subtilis yielded the highest phenolic content, and ‘Lucky’ with B. thuringiensis generated maximum leaf area. Additionally, ‘White Beauty’ treated with B. subtilis exhibited superior chlorophyll content, indicating enhanced photosynthetic capacity. The significant cultivar × PGPB interactions for total yield, phenolics, and anthocyanins underscore the critical importance of strain-specific compatibility for maximizing both productivity and nutraceutical value. These findings provide compelling evidence that strategic integration of genetically superior cultivars with compatible PGPB strains—particularly the ‘Lucky’ × B. subtilis combination—offers a offers a viable and effective for sustainable cauliflower production, has practical implications for developing cultivar-specific bio-inoculant strategies that simultaneously enhance food security and nutritional quality in changing climates.
Alam et al. (Thu,) studied this question.