Effect of microorganisms isolated from the rhizosphere of Hedysarum zundukii on wheat growth and development

Studies on bacteria stimulating plant growth are currently relevant. Rhizobacteria are known to promote root system development and plant growth, improve nutrient availability, and protect against diseases by inhibiting the growth of phytopathogens. The creation of new biopreparations from local plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria strains constitutes a promising direction for agronomy and is of theoretical and practical interest. Local strains exhibit higher adaptability to specific environmental conditions than their foreign counterparts. We believe that such properties should be exhibited by microorganisms from the rhizosphere of Hedysarum zundukii, an endemic to the Olkhon region, growing under high insolation and low precipitation conditions (Olkhonsky District, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia). The conducted study was aimed at examining the effect produced by the rhizosphere microorganisms of Hedysarum zundukii on wheat growth and development under normal and water deficit conditions. The conducted study revealed that microbial activity has a positive effect on wheat growth and development. Noteworthy is that the positive effect of analyzed microorganisms on plants was enhanced under drought conditions. When wheat seeds were treated with Bacillus sp. strain Hz 7, an 8% increase in root growth stimulation was observed. In the case of Streptomyces sp. Hz 21, this effect increased from 19 to 31%; the use of Pseudomonas sp. strain Hz 19 contributed to a 16% increase in root formation. The obtained results indicate the potential of rhizosphere microorganisms for improving the stress tolerance of crops.