Study on the Viability and Sustainable Release of Rice Rhizobacteria (Paenibacillus IBGE-MAB1) İmmobilized in Nanofibers for Enhanced Rice Seed Coating and Germination

This study aims to investigate the impact of sustained delivery of bacterial culture through polymeric nanofibers on rice seed coating — to further enhance rice output, crop yield, and soil improvement in a particular area. A bacterial species, identified as Paenibacillus IBGE-MAB1 through 16S rRNA analysis, was isolated from fertile soil cultivated with rice. The electrospinning technique was used to immobilize bacteria with nanofibers. The SEM and FTIR spectroscopy tests were used to observe morphology and chemical changes in nanofibers. The viability test and release profile from nanofibers before and after coating were evaluated. The cumulative impact of nanofibers coating was evaluated by observing germination and vegetative growth in IRRI-6 and IRRI-8 rice seeds. The Paenibacillus -immobilized nanofibers measured 355.3 ± 67.5 nm in size, showing no change in functional groups. The viability test of bacteria after immobilization in nanofibers indicated a high survival rate of 98%. Coated seeds IRRI-6 and IRRI-8 exhibited a significant improvement in the germination index, up to twice as compared to the control. The higher Vigor index of IRRI-6 and IRRI-8 was measured at 1253 and 1173, respectively. This study presents a novel technique for coating rice seeds with Paenibacilus- immobilized polymeric nanofibers, demonstrating its efficacy as an environmentally friendly technology. The coated seeds exhibited enhanced germination and vegetative growth in rice crops.