Three bacterial isolates selected as plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria (PGPEB) from “Klutuk” banana (Musa balbisiana L.) gained scrutiny for first-time testing on black rice. The presented study pursued an investigation on the impact of endophytic bacteria inoculation obtained from “Klutuk” banana plants on the growth and production traits of black rice. For this research, the three bacterial isolates (K10, K324, and K111) served as inoculums for black rice seeds, testing for synergism. The three isolates inoculation into black rice plants used both single and consortium inoculation methods. With agar media, black rice growth observation began 14 days after plantation (DAP) while on soil, at 30 and 140 DAP with inoculation. Three isolates did not show any antagonistic reactions. Overall, isolate K10 showed less significant improvement in growth and yield traits of black rice compared with two other isolates, i.e., K324 and K111. With agar media, the endophytic bacteria inoculations did not show a significant effect on the growth of black rice, and even isolate K324 was inhibiting in action. However, on soil media, isolate K324 significantly enhanced the number of roots and shoot length in black rice compared with the control at 30 DAP. The single inoculation with isolate K111 has caused increased productivity based on the weight of the root, dry grain weight per clum, plant height, root length, leaf length, and panicle length in black rice. Isolate K324 promotes the growth of black rice on the soil media at 30 DAP, while isolate K111 improves the production traits on the soil media at 140 DAP. The study findings provide a significant basis for the positive impact of endophytic bacterial inoculation on black rice growth and yield traits.

Keywords: Black rice (Oryza sativa L.), endophytic bacteria, bacterial isolates, “Klutuk” banana, agar and soil media, growth and yield traits

Key findings: Endophytic bacteria isolates from “Klutuk” bananas have been illustrative of plant growth-promoting bacteria. Bacterial inoculation significantly improved black rice growth and yield traits. Isolate K324 enhanced the growth on soil media at 30 DAP, while isolate K111 enriched black rice growth and yield traits on soil media at 140 DAP.