Exploring the bacteriome of Etlingera balikpapanensis for potential biofertilizer development and conservation strategies

ALMANDO GERALDI (University CoE-Research Center for Bio-Molecule Engineering, Universitas Airlangga. Jl. Dr. Ir. H. Soekarno, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)
FATIMAH FATIMAH (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga. Jl. Teknik Mesin No.173, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)
RICO RAMADHAN (University CoE-Research Center for Bio-Molecule Engineering, Universitas Airlangga. Jl. Dr. Ir. H. Soekarno, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)
NI’MATUZAHROH NI’MATUZAHROH (University CoE-Research Center for Bio-Molecule Engineering, Universitas Airlangga. Jl. Dr. Ir. H. Soekarno, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)
HERY SUWITO (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga. Jl. Dr. Ir. H. Soekarno, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)
NABILLA HAPSARI WIJAYA (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga. Jl. Teknik Mesin No.173, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)
YANA ZAINADA VIRDAUS (School of Life Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung. Jl. Ganeca No.10, Bandung 40132, West Java, Indonesia)
RICA HANIM FADHILAH (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga. Jl. Teknik Mesin No.173, Surabaya 60115, East Java, Indonesia)
ARRIZAL RAHMAN (Environmental Office of Balikpapan. Jl. Ruhui Rahayu 1 No. 8, Balikpapan 76115, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)
LUKMAN RIYADI (Environmental Office of Balikpapan. Jl. Ruhui Rahayu 1 No. 8, Balikpapan 76115, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 26 No. 5 (2025)

Abstract. Geraldi A, Fatimah, Ramadhan R, Ni’matuzahroh, Suwito H, Wijaya NH, Virdaus YZ, Fadhilah RH, Rahman A, Riyadi L. 2025. Exploring the bacteriome of Etlingera balikpapanensis for potential biofertilizer development and conservation strategies. Biodiversitas 26: 2548-2555. Etlingera balikpapanensis, an endangered and endemic plant species from the rainforests of East Kalimantan, Indonesia, faces significant threats due to habitat loss and environmental changes. Conservation strategies for this species are limited, and there is an urgent need for innovative approaches to enhance its survival, particularly in ex-situ environments. One promising avenue is the development of biofertilizers derived from beneficial microbial communities. These Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB), which exist in both endophytic and rhizospheric environments, can improve nutrient uptake, enhance stress tolerance, and protect against pathogens. We used high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the endophytic and rhizospheric bacterial communities associated with E. balikpapanensis. We identified 1,183 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) from plant tissues and soil samples. Among these, we found bacterial species known for their plant growth-promoting properties, including Pantoea dispersa and Kluyvera intermedia in plant tissues, as well as Burkholderia pyrrocinia, and Bradyrhizobium elkanii in soil samples. These potential microbes, with their proven plant growth-promoting properties, offer hope for the conservation of E. balikpapanensis. They can be used in biofertilizer formulation that could support the species' survival by improving its resilience to environmental stresses. The identification of such microbial communities offers a foundation for developing sustainable conservation practices that leverage natural symbiotic relationships. Future efforts should focus on isolating and characterizing these bacterial strains for experimental biofertilizer applications, aiming not only to enhance the growth of E. balikpapanensis, but also to aid the conservation of other endangered species within the Zingiberaceae family.