Comparative analysis of bacterial diversity and PGPB activity in rhizosphere of high and low yield sugarcane

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is an important crop in India and its cultivation plays an important role in the country's economy. Rhizosphere microbiome plays a critical role in plant health, nutrient acquisition, and productivity. In this study, we investigated the rhizosphere microbiota of high- and low-yielding sugarcane fields using 16S rRNA gene (Ribosomal RNA gene) based high-throughput sequencing. The results revealed a diverse microbial community that present in high- and low-yield sugarcane, dominated by bacterial phyla such as Proteobacteria, Firmicutes_A, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteriota, Patescibacteria, Firmicutes_D, Acidobacteriota, and Chloroflexota. High-yielding sugarcane in Shamli district was enriched with plant growth-promoting genera such as Azospirillum, Burkholderia, Mesorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Sphingobium and Rhizobium, whereas low-yielding sugarcane in Hapur district was dominated by Thiobacillus. This study highlights the importance of rhizosphere bacteria in sustainable sugarcane farming. To increase sugarcane yield, this study offers a foundation for developing microbial consortia of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) that can be helpful in enhancing crop productivity.