Seed bio-priming with phosphate solubilizing bacteria strains to improve rice (Oryza sativa L. var. FARO 44) growth under ferruginous ultisol conditions

This study investigated the possibility of using phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) with plant-growth-promoting (PGP) capabilities to improve the growth properties of rice plants under ferruginous ultisol (FU) conditions through bio priming. The following PSB with PGP properties were used in this study: Bacillus cereus strain GGBSU-1, Proteus mirabilis strain TL14-1, and Klebsiella variicola strain AUH-KAM-9, which were previously iso¬lated and characterized based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Biosafety analysis of the PSB isolates was con¬ducted using blood agar. The rice seeds were then bio primed with the PSB for 3, 12, and 24 h and then sown in a composite FU soil sample. Differences in germinat ion bioassay were investigated 15 weeks after bio priming using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), morphology, physiology, and biomass parameters. The composite FU soil used in this study had high pH, low bioavailable phosphorus, low water-holding capacity, and high iron le¬vels, which resulted in low growth properties of rice seeds without bio priming in the FU soil. Germination para¬meters were improved in seeds bio primed with the PSB, especially after 12 h of priming, compared with seeds with-out priming. SEM showed higher bacterial colonization in bio primed seeds. Bio priming of rice seeds with the studied PSB under FU soil conditions significantly improved seed microbiome, rhizocolonization, and soil nu¬trient properties, thereby enhancing the growth properties of rice. This indicated the ability of PSB to so¬lubilize and mineralize soil phosphate and improve phosphorus availability and soil properties for optimum plant usage in phosphate-stressed and iron toxic soils.