Exploiting native plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in Cameroonian agro-ecosystems provides a means to improve plant–microbe interactions that may enhance ecosystem sustainability and agricultural productivity in an environmentally eco-friendly way. Consequently, we aimed to investigate the community structure and functional PGPR diversity of maize grown in Cameroon. Native bacteria isolated from Cameroon maize rhizosphere soil were identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and screened for traits particularly relevant for Cameroon low-fertility soil conditions, such as their abilities to tolerate high concentrations of salt, and their plant growth- promoting potential. Genetic and functional diversity was characterized according to their phylogenetic affiliation. A total of 143 bacteria were identified and assigned to 3 phyla (Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria), 13 families and 20 genera. Bacillus (31.5%), Arthrobacter (17.5%), and Sinomonas (13.3%) were the most abundant genera identified among all the isolates. Based on their in vitro characterization, 88.1% were salt tolerant at 2% NaCl, but only 16.8% could tolerate 8% NaCl, 50.4% solubilized phosphate, 10.5% possessed the nifH gene, and 19.6% produced siderophores. Six isolates affiliated to the most abundant genera identified in this work, Bacillus and Arthrobacter, carrying multiple or only single tested traits were selected to evaluate their growth- promoting potential in an in vitro maize germination assay. Three strains possessing multiple traits induced significantly increased hypocotyl and root length of maize seeds compared to non-inoculated control seeds. Our results indicate the potential of selected indigenous Cameroon rhizobacteria to enhance maize growth.

在喀麦隆农业生态系统中利用原生植物促进根际细菌（PGPR）提供了一种改善植物与微生物相互作用的方法，该方法可以以生态环保的方式增强生态系统的可持续性和农业生产力。因此，我们旨在调查喀麦隆种植的玉米的群落结构和功能性PGPR多样性。通过部分16S rRNA基因测序鉴定了从喀麦隆玉米根际土壤中分离出的天然细菌，并筛选了与喀麦隆低肥力土壤条件特别相关的性状，例如耐高盐能力和植物生长潜力。遗传和功能的多样性是根据它们的系统亲缘关系来表征的。总共鉴定出143种细菌，并将其分配给3个门（放线菌属，菌类属和变形杆菌属（13个科和20属）。在所有分离株中，芽孢杆菌（31.5％），节杆菌（17.5％）和希诺那氏菌（13.3％）是最丰富的属。根据它们的体外特征，在2％NaCl中耐盐性为88.1％，但仅能耐受8％NaCl，50.4％可溶性磷酸盐，10.5％具有nifH基因和19.6％产生的铁载体。与这项工作中鉴定到的最丰富属有关的六个分离株，芽孢杆菌和节杆菌，选择携带多个或单个测试性状的玉米，以在体外玉米萌发试验中评估其促进生长的潜力。与未接种的对照种子相比，具有多重性状的三种菌株诱导的玉米种子的胚轴和根长显着增加。我们的结果表明，选定的喀麦隆本土根际细菌可以增强玉米的生长。