Cultivable and Non-Cultivable Approach to Bacteria from Undisturbed Soil with Plant Growth-Promoting Capacity

Area of Science:

• Soil microbiology
• Environmental science
• Biogeochemistry

Background:

• Undisturbed soils are critical ecosystems supporting high microbial diversity.
• Soil microorganisms regulate essential biogeochemical cycles, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur transformations.
• Understanding soil microbial communities is vital for nutrient availability and plant health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the microbial community structure and functional potential of undisturbed soils.
• To identify key bacterial taxa involved in nutrient cycling and plant-microorganism interactions.
• To investigate the presence of specific microorganisms with plant growth-promoting capabilities.

Main Methods:

• Integrated approach combining 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and classical microbiology techniques.
• Phylum-level and genus-level analyses of soil microbiota.
• Utilized selective and differential media to isolate specific functional groups.

Main Results:

• High abundance of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria at the phylum level.
• Identified key genera including Nitrospira, Candidatus Koribacter, Burkholderia, Bacillus, Flavobacterium, and Pedomicrobium.
• Detected phosphorus and potassium solubilizing bacteria (Enterobacter, Hafnia) and siderophore producers.

Conclusions:

• Soil microbial communities in undisturbed soils are dominated by taxa crucial for nutrient recycling and organic matter decomposition.
• Specific bacterial genera play significant roles in nitrification, plant growth promotion, and soil remediation.
• The identified functional microorganisms contribute to biogeochemical cycles and support plant growth in the studied soil ecosystem.