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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