<i>Metabacillus dongyingensis</i> sp. nov. Is Represented by the Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium BY2G20 Isolated from Saline-Alkaline Soil and Enhances the Growth of <i>Zea mays</i> L. under Salt Stress
Zhiqiu Yin, Xin Wang, Yujie Hu, Jikun Zhang, Hui Li, Yanru Cui, Dongying Zhao, Xusheng Dong, Xiaohang Zhang, Kai Liu, Binghai Du, Yanqin Ding, Chengqiang Wang
Abstract
based on phenotypic, genomic, and phylogenetic analysis. Genomic components have undergone different functional constraints, and the disparity in the evolutionary rate may be associated with the adaptation to a specific niche. Genomic analysis revealed numerous adaptive features of strain BY2G20 to a saline-alkaline environment and rhizosphere, especially genes related to salt tolerance, pH adaptability, and plant growth promotion. Our work also exhibited that inoculation of strain BY2G20 enhanced the growth of maize under salt stress. This study demonstrates that PGPRs play an important role in stimulating salt tolerance in plants and can be used as biofertilizers to enhance the growth of crops in saline-alkaline areas.