Abstract:Background Rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria, with plant growth-promoting effects, stress tolerance, and colonization abilities, are the main sources of microbial fertilizers. As a desert stress-tolerant pioneer tree species and the main host of Cistanche deserticola, Haloxylon ammodendron has been rarely studied in terms of the plant growth-promoting effects of rhizosphere and endophytic microorganisms.Objective To screen plant growth-promoting strains from the rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria of H. ammodendron and provide microbial resources for the sustainable breeding of this plant.Methods Rhizosphere soil and plant samples of H. ammodendron were collected from the Ulan Buh Desert in Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria were isolated and purified, and their growth-promoting effects on H. ammodendron seedlings were investigated. Molecular biological identification and plant growth-promoting effect evaluation were conducted for the strains with significant plant growth-promoting effects. The most effective strains of different genera were selected to construct strain combinations, the growth-promoting effects of which on H. ammodendron were tested.Results A total of 97 bacterial strains from the rhizosphere of H. ammodendron and 68 endophytic bacterial strains were isolated. Five rhizosphere bacterial strains showed significant plant growth-promoting effects, belonging to 4 species of 4 genera, with Pseudomonas being the dominant genus, accounting for 40%. Twelve endophytic bacterial strains showed significant plant growth-promoting effects, belonging to 12 species of 7 genera, with Bacillus being the dominant genus, accounting for 25%. These strains all had high capabilities of nitrogen fixation, inorganic phosphorus solubilization, potassium feldspar solubilization, and biofilm formation. Most of the strains also had the abilities of organic phosphorus solubilization, potassium aluminosilicate solubilization, and siderophore and IAA production. Among the constructed strain combinations, four combinations had the best plant growth-promoting effects, of which the core strains were Bacillus sp. Ia-14, Pseudoduganella flava ASD1-2, Pseudomonas sp. SC1-7, and Arthrobacter oryzae PaS-6-2.Conclusion The plant growth-promoting microbial resources in the rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria of H. ammodendron are abundant. They mainly promote the growth of H. ammodendron seedlings through nitrogen fixation, phosphorus and potassium solubilization, siderophore production, IAA production, and biofilm formation. Bacillus sp., P. flava, Pseudomonas sp., and A. oryzae play a core role in the strain combinations with plant growth-promoting effects.