Effects of a PGPR bio-inoculant on the pepper rhizosphere microbiome
This study characterized the impact of a novel PGPR (Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria) water-dispersible granule (WDG) formulation on soil bacterial communities. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we analyzed rhizosphere soil from pepper plants grown in a baseline fertile potting mixture under three treatments: PGPR WDG application, chemical fertilizer, and an untreated control. The primary objective was to determine how the PGPR bio-inoculant, compared to conventional fertilization, modulates soil microbial diversity, community structure, and the abundance of specific taxa. This analysis provides mechanistic insights into the role of the soil microbiome in mediating plant growth and health responses observed in the associated pot experiment.