Isolation and identification of an EPS-producing Rhizobium strain from arid soil (Algeria): characterization of its EPS and the effect of inoculation on wheat rhizosphere soil structure

A rheological analysis showed that this EPS could be considered as a thickening agent with polyelectrolyte properties. Inoculation of wheat plantlets with strain KYGT207 caused significant promotion of plant growth (+85% for shoot dry mass and +56% for root dry mass), a significant increase in root-adhering soil (RAS) dry mass (dm) per root dm (RAS/RT) up to 137%, and in RAS aggregate water stability. We demonstrate that EPS-producing bacteria were present in sandy soils subjected to water stress and that EPS-producing Rhizobium populations play an important role in the rhizosphere through their contribution to soil aggregation.