Cactus Endophytic Bacteria Promote Strawberry Root Growth Under Reduced Fertilization

Endophytic bacteria isolated from two native cactus species significantly increased root fresh and dry biomass in greenhouse strawberry plants grown under reduced fertilization, according to a study published in Plant Biosystems. The research evaluated the biotechnological potential and functional characteristics of bacterial strains obtained from cacti in Zapotitlán Salinas, located within the Tehuacán–Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (TCBR).

During the investigation, researchers isolated 24 endophytic bacterial strains from two native cacti species: four strains from Hylocereus undatus and 20 strains from Opuntia pubescens. Functional characterization revealed that the isolates exhibited multiple plant growth-promoting traits, including phosphate and zinc solubilization, as well as the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophores, and ammonia.

Based on these plant growth-promoting profiles, five bacterial strains were selected for evaluation in strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa “Cabrillo”) under greenhouse conditions. In these trials, several bacterial treatments administered alongside reduced fertilization showed significantly higher root fresh biomass, root dry biomass, or both, when compared with non-inoculated controls receiving either full fertilization of 150 mL or reduced fertilization of 50 mL.

Taxonomic identification conducted through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS assigned the isolates to Rhizobium, Pantoea/Erwinia, Pantoea, Paenibacillus sp., the Bacillus cereus group, Sphingomonas, and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans. The authors concluded that these results highlight the potential of endophytic bacteria associated with the two cactus species sampled in Zapotitlán Salinas within the TCBR, supporting their further evaluation for applications in sustainable, low-input agricultural systems.

Subject of Research: Plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria from cacti

Article Title: Evaluation of the biotechnological potential and functional characterization of plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria isolated from two cacti species

Article References: Sosa-Armenta, G. J., Pérez-Armendáriz, B., Contreras-Mioni, L., Arellano-Osota, G., Valencia-Luna, G. A., & Wappler-Barragan, G. (2026). Evaluation of the biotechnological potential and functional characterization of plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria isolated from two cacti species. Plant Biosystems, 160(6), Article 305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44473-026-00337-9

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s44473-026-00337-9

Keywords: endophytic bacteria, plant growth-promoting bacteria, cacti, Hylocereus undatus, Opuntia pubescens, strawberry cultivation, reduced fertilization, sustainable agriculture, Evaluation, biotechnological, potential, functional