Screening halotolerant bacteria for their potential as plant growth-promoting and coal-solubilizing agents
Akimbekov N. Digel I. Kamenov B. Altynbay N. Tastambek K. Zha J. Tepecik A. Sakhanova S.K.
December 2025Nature Research
Scientific Reports
2025#15Issue 1
The bioconversion of salinized land into healthy agricultural systems by utilizing low-rank coal (LRC) is a strategic approach for sustainable agricultural development. The aims of this study were: (1) to isolate bacterial strains associated with the rhizosphere of native plants in coal-containing soils, (2) to characterize their plant growth-promoting (PGP) and coal-solubilizing capabilities under laboratory conditions and (3) to evaluate their influence on the germination and growth of chia seeds under saline stress. Fourteen bacterial cultures were isolated from the rhizosphere of Artemisia annua L. using culture media containing salt and coal. Based on their PGP activities (nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore and indole-3-acetic acid production), five strains were selected, belonging to the genera Bacillus, Phyllobacterium, Arthrobacter, and Pseudomonas. Solubilization assays were conducted to confirm the ability of these strains to utilize coal efficiently. Finally, the selected strains were inoculated with chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) to evaluate their ameliorating effect under saline stress conditions in coal-containing media. Inoculation with A. subterraneus Y1 resulted in the highest germination and growth metrics of chia seeds. A positive but comparatively weaker response was observed with P. frederiksbergensis AMA1 and B. paramycoides Lb-1 as inoculants. Coal inoculated with halotolerant bacteria can serve as the foundation for humified organic matter in salt-affected environments. The selected halotolerant bacteria enhance coal biotransformation while exhibiting PGP traits.
Coal solubilizing bacteria , Halotolerant bacteria , Low-rank coal , Plant growth promotion , Saline stress
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Sustainability of Ecology and Bioresources, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Ave. 71, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Scientific-Practical Center, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Maresyev Str. 68, Aktobe, 030019, Kazakhstan
Ecology Research Institute, Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Sattarhanov Str. 29, Turkistan, 161200, Kazakhstan
Institute for Bioengineering, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Heinrich-Mussmann-Straße 1, Jülich, 52428, Germany
School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
Sustainability of Ecology and Bioresources
Scientific-Practical Center
Ecology Research Institute
Institute for Bioengineering
School of Food and Biological Engineering
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