Fuente: PubMed "plant biotechnology" World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2026 Jun 20;42(7):361. doi: 10.1007/s11274-026-05098-3.ABSTRACTArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic associations with plant roots and play a significant role in improving plant nutrition and growth. To enrich and propagate the indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associated with Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata), trap cultures were established using field-collected rhizospheric soil and root fragments. Rhizophagus irregularis was isolated from the trap culture and identified by amplifying the SSU region of 18 S rDNA. Bacterial isolates associated with AMF spores have been isolated from both the outer and inner spore surfaces. The isolates were identified by amplifying and sequencing the 16 S rDNA region. All bacterial isolates were tested for their plant growth-promoting properties, such as phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, siderophore production, and extracellular enzyme activity. The findings revealed major functional differences between bacteria on the spore surface and those found inside the spores. Selected promising isolates were then tested for their capacity to promote plant growth in maize and Khasi mandarin under controlled conditions. Plants treated with AMF and selected bacterial isolates exhibited significantly improved growth characteristics compared with untreated controls.PMID:42322537 | DOI:10.1007/s11274-026-05098-3