Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 26 No. 10 (2025)

Isolation and selection of nitrogen-fixing rhizosphere bacteria from vegetable crops

NGUYEN PHUONG THUY (School of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Tra Vinh University. Vinh Long Province 89000, Vietnam)
NGUYEN THANH TUU (College of Engineering and Technology, Tra Vinh University. Vinh Long Province 89000, Vietnam)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Oct 2025

Abstract

Abstract. Thuy NP, Tuu NT. 2025. Isolation and selection of nitrogen-fixing rhizosphere bacteria from vegetable crops. Biodiversitas 26: 4841-4850. Intensive vegetable cultivation in Vietnam's Mekong Delta heavily relies on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, causing significant environmental issues. The aim of this study was to identify indigenous nitrogen-fixing bacteria as sustainable biofertilizers, emphasizing their crucial role in enhancing soil health and agro-biodiversity. Rhizospheric soils were collected from 17 local vegetable species, isolating 36 distinct bacterial strains. Initial characterization revealed a numerical dominance of Gram-positive bacteria (>83%), reflecting adaptation to Tra Vinh's unique conditions, and included a filamentous Actinobacteria isolate. The functionally potent Gram-negative isolates exhibited morphological and biochemical characteristics consistent with genera, such as Achromobacter, Stenotrophomonas, and Dyella. Nitrogen fixation screening via micro-Kjeldahl showed activity from 5.89 mg/L to 24.59 mg/L NH4+. Five elite strains, identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Stenotrophomonas sp. SM9.2, Achromobacter sp. IB1.2, Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. xiangfangensis SM18.2, Achromobacter sp. SM9.1, and Dyella sp. SM18.3, demonstrated the highest nitrogen fixation rates. Laboratory bioassays with water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) confirmed significant plant growth promotion. Notably, Stenotrophomonas sp. SM9.2 increased fresh biomass by 27.7% and shoot length by 16.6%, while Achromobacter sp. IB1.2 improved seed germination by 9.9%. These findings highlight promising candidates for local biofertilizer production and underscore the importance of leveraging indigenous microbial biodiversity for sustainable farming solutions.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

biodiv

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology

Description

The Biodiversitas Journal was first published in 2000 by the Department of Biology, FMNS, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia, then in 2006 it was co-published by the Society for Indonesian Biodiversity and that department; since 2017 it was also hosted by Smujo. From 2003-2012 it was ...