Phylogenetic analysis of halophyte‐associated rhizobacteria and effect of halotolerant and halophilic phosphate solubilizing biofertilizers on maize growth under salinity stress conditions

AIMS: The main objective of the present work was to evaluate plant growth-promoting abilities of bacterial strains from the rhizosphere of halophytes and their effect on maize growth under salinity stress. METHODS AND RESULTS: Halophilic bacteria were identified using 16S rRNA sequence analysis and their plant growth-promoting abilities were characterized. Phylogenetic analysis showed that bacterial strains belonging to Bacillus, Halobacillus and Pseudomonas were dominant in the rhizosphere of halophytes. More than 93% strains showed P-solubilization activity and IAA production. About 54% strains were able to produce ACC deaminase, 29% strains showed positive results for nitrogen fixation, 41 and 21% strains showed siderophores and HCN production ability respectively. More than 90% strains showed antifungal activity against more than two fungal pathogens and production of different hydrolytic enzymes. To study the plant growth-promoting effect on maize, five bacterial strains Bacillus safensis HL1HP11 and Bacillus pumilus HL3RS14, Kocuria rosea HL1RP8, Enterobacter aerogenes AT1HP4 and Aeromonas veronii AT1RP10 were used as inoculants; in the form of seed coat and enriched soil-based phosphate biofertilizers. All bacterial strains positively affected the maize growth as compared to non-inoculated control + NaCl plants. Plants inoculated with Bacillus HL3RS14-based soil biofertilizers showed maximum increase in dry weights of root (48-124%) and shoot (52-131%) as compared to control + NaCl (soil + rock phosphate, no inoculum). PGPR inoculations under salinity stress conditions showed high concentrations of proline, glycine betaine and malondialdehyde. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that under saline soil conditions, halophilic PGPR strains combined with carrier materials are promising candidates as biofertilizers.