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Effects of individual and combination of endophytic bacterial strains on growth and development of lodgepole pine Goli, Richita

Abstract

Improving nitrogen availability via biological mechanisms is essential for sustainable forestry, especially in ecosystems where nutrients are limited. Endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which can inhabit plant tissues, provide a natural and environmentally friendly substitute for chemical fertilizers, promising to enhance seedling growth and ecosystem resilience. This research examines the impact of the bacterial endophytes Caballeronia sordidicola LS-S2c and Paenibacillus polymyxa P2b-2r, individually and in combination on the growth of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) seedlings in nutrient-deficient environments. These seeds were treated with bacterial inoculations and evaluated for growth promotion, nitrogen fixation, and microbial colonization in the rhizosphere and endosphere (roots, shoots, needles) in a greenhouse trial after 90 (1st harvest) and 135 days (2nd harvest). Inoculation with LS-S2c significantly increased both root (46%, p

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International