Indigenous plant growth-promoting bacteria enhance plant growth, biomass, and nutrient uptake in degraded forest plants.

The present study was aimed to isolate indigenous plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) from Nanmangalam reserve forest, India and to analyze their positive impact on nursery plant species. In total, 160 isolates were obtained from different nitrogen-free Media (LGI, JMV, NFB). Amongst these, 12 isolates were shown positive for 5-8% of ammonia production nif H positive and then isolates were further tested for their plant growth-promoting (PGP) activity. Based on their PGP activity, nine isolates were selected, and applied in nurseries of twelve native plant species, along with organic manure and inorganic fertilizer. All the isolates were shown positive effects when compared to control. In that, five of these bacterial isolates, Paenibacillus sp. RRB2, Azospirillum brasilense RRAK5, Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis RRD8, Burholdria kururiensis RRAK1, and Pseudomonas stutzeri RRAN2, enhanced biomass production in several trees.