Molecular characterization of endophytic and ectophytic plant growth promoting bacteria isolated from tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown in different soil types.

This study evaluates, for the first time, the relationship between plant microhabitat and the rhizocompetence ability in tomato rhizosphere. The results indicated that soil type and plant sphere can influence both the genotypic diversity and rhizocompetence ability of the same bacterial species. Bacterial isolates obtained in this study are promising to be used as an environmentally friendly substitution of chemical fertilizers.