A recently published study investigates the potential of diazotrophic, phosphate-solubilizing endophytic bacteria to improve rice growth through biological nitrogen fixation and multiple plant growth-promoting traits. These bacteria offer a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers, which are costly, environmentally damaging, and widely overused in rice production.
The research team isolated 35 endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria from sorghum, rice, and Cynodon grass collected in South Gujarat, India. From these, four strains—Pantoea sp. P101, Bacillus mojavensis EB120, Enterobacter sp. G1, and Serratia marcescens N65—were selected based on the presence of the nifH gene and strong nitrogenase activity.
The study demonstrates that these isolates possess multiple phyto-beneficial traits, including phosphate solubilization, IAA production, siderophore secretion, ACC deaminase activity, and antifungal properties. HPLC analysis revealed that all strains primarily produce gluconic acid, with P101 generating the broadest diversity of organic acids.
In pot experiments, rice plants treated with these endophytes exhibited significantly enhanced growth. Pantoea sp. P101 emerged as the most effective strain, increasing shoot and root length, biomass, chlorophyll content, nitrogen accumulation, and soil nutrient availability. SEM imaging further confirmed successful colonization of rice roots by P101 without causing any adverse effects.
The results highlight the potential of these diazotrophic endophytes to support nitrogen fixation, nutrient mobilization, and resilience while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. The authors conclude that such strains—particularly P101—could serve as sustainable biofertilizers, warranting future field-scale validation.
Reference
Gauswami, A., Jha, S., Patel, S. et al. Harnessing phyto-beneficial traits of endophytic diazotrophic bacteria for enhanced rice growth. Symbiosis (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-025-01095-6
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