Fatima Aslam Bhatti^1*, Muhammad Naveed¹, Hafiz Naeem Asghar¹, Shahzad MA Basra², Wajid Ishaque³

¹Institute of Soil & Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad-38040, Faisalabad, Pakistan

²Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan

³Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), P.O. Box 128, Jhang Road Faisalabad, Pakistan

 

*Corresponding author’s email: fatimaaslambhatti@gmail.com

Received: 07 September 2025 / Revised: 03 November 2025 / Accepted: 11 November 2025 / Published Online: 19 November 2025

 

Abstract

 

Endophytic diazotrophic bacteria from non-host crops represent a promising source for developing novel bioinoculants. This study isolated and characterized nitrogen-fixing bacteria from the leaves and twigs of Populus euphratica and assessed their ability to colonize and promote growth in Wheat. From fifty-two isolates obtained on nitrogen-free media, five potent strains—identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as Beijerinckia fluminensis FA-7, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia FA-9, Pseudomonas aeruginosa FA-16, Klebsiella pneumoniae FA-4, and Enterobacter cloacae FA-8 were selected for their nitrogen fixation and plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. These strains exhibited multiple PGP activities, including phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, and the production of siderophores and exopolysaccharides. In growth chamber and wirehouse experiments under varying nitrogen regimes [full (N+), limiting (N-), and zero (N0)], all strains enhanced at least one wheat growth parameter. Notably, Beijerinckia fluminensis FA-7 significantly improved early growth, nutrient uptake, and root architecture—increasing root length, surface area, and fine root development—as confirmed by WinRhizo analysis. Our findings demonstrate that endophytic diazotrophs from Populus can successfully colonize wheat and enhance its growth, highlighting their potential as effective microbial inoculants for agriculture.

 

Keywords: Endophytes, PGPR, Driazotroph, Nitrogen fixation, Wheat

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