Characterization of Potential Chalky Soil Bacteria Isolated from Rhizosphere of Acacia spp. Growing in Abardae, Maekel Region of Eritrea

The current study was carried out to characterize chalky soil bacteria obtained from the rhizosphere of Acacia species growing in Abardae, Maekel Region of Eritrea. This study collected three chalky soil samples from the rhizosphere of Acacia ethibica, Acacia origena, and non-rhizospheric soil. The samples contained 1.42 × 1010, 5.35 × 109, and 5.68 × 107 cfu/g of culturable bacteria, respectively. A total of 80 bacterial strains were isolated, with ten selected for further study based on their distinct morphology. The researchers examined the cell morphology and the antimicrobial and plant growth-promoting activity of the chosen bacterial isolates. The study’s findings identified that the aerial mycelium of the strain EAE-1 displayed a unique and previously unreported arrangement of hyphae-bearing spores. The antimicrobial test results also showed that bacterial strains EAE-1, EAE-3, EAE-14, EAE-15, EAE-40, and EAO-24 displayed a wide range of antimicrobial activity against the examined phytopathogens. Furthermore, the seed germination result showed that the majority of bacterial strains had a positive effect on wheat growth, with strains EAE-40 and EAO-17 particularly enhancing maize growth. To sum up, the substantial capabilities of these strains position them as promising candidates for biotechnological applications. This study also represents the preliminary analysis of the microbial composition of Eritrean soil.