Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolated from the rhizosphere soil of eight field crops at different locations in Egypt were identified. Rhizobacteria strains were identified as Bacillus endophyticus AW1 5, B. filamentosus EM9, ET3, Micrococcus luteus KT2, FW9, FC13, SaW4, Enterobacter cloacae SK18, Pseudomonas azotoformans TPo10, Citrobacter braakii TC3. All isolates solubilised insoluble phosphate and produced IAA, while only six were able to produce siderophores in vitro. Vegetative growth and yield of wheat cv. ‘Sakha 94’ were enhanced after the application of single inoculation of each isolate compared to the control. Grain yield was increased by 20.7– 96.5% over the control according to bacterial isolates. Available phosphorus (P) and counts of total bacteria in soil were observed to be significantly increased in treatments than in control. After the wheat harvest, soil pH was observed to be decreased, and a highly significant negative correlation was observed between soil pH and the levels of available phosphorus. Significant increases in grain and straw yields, as well as uptake of nitrogen (N) and P by plants, were observed due to inoculation with PGPR isolates. Levels of photosynthetic pigments, free amino acids, free phenolics, and reducing sugars in flag leaf and spikes were significantly enhanced by the application of all PGPR isolates compared to the control. Thus this study identifies the PGPR isolates for the improvement of the growth, yield, and quality of wheat. The study may be also useful for field evaluation under different soils and environmental conditions before generalising PGPR isolates as biofertilisers.

Fluorescent Pseudomonas (FP) is a major group of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and a well-known synthesizer of siderophores, which imparts a selective advantage on rhizosphere competence and their biocontrol traits. The present study was aimed at examining the factors affecting the production of siderophores and their potential biocontrol traits. Sixteen FP isolates were shortlisted based on their siderophore-producing ability in chrome azural S medium. The isolates were checked for variations in siderophore production under varying incubation times, temperatures, pH, iron (Fe3+) concentrations and mutagens. In addition, the iron binding affinity of siderophores, mycelial inhibition assay and plant growth promotion traits were assessed. Results showed that the siderophore production was highly influenced by the time of incubation, changes in pH, temperature and iron concentration. Chemical characterization showed that the produced siderophores were hydroxamates. Maximum siderophore production was observed at pH 7 whereas UV and EtBr exposure invariably suppressed siderophore production drastically in all isolates. All FPs from maize rhizosphere showed excellent siderophore production which could be due to the competence in strategy-II of the plant rhizosphere and significant growth inhibition on Fusarium oxysporum. Our results suggest the inclination of siderophores to iron, in terms of various criteria affecting production and the possible role of environmental mutations that affect the natural iron harvesting mechanism.