| Summary: | In recent years, the low Zn content of wheat has become critical. Consequently, solutions that can improve the Zn nutrition of wheat are highly researched. In the present investigation, we aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria isolated from <i>Ziziphus lotus</i> on wheat seedling growth. Based on the phosphate-solubilizing criteria, four isolated strains, J16, J143, J146, and J158, were identified by 16SrRNA gene sequencing as <i>Pseudomonas moraviensis</i>, <i>Bacillus halotolerans</i>, <i>Enterobacter hormaechei</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis,</i> respectively. Studies of the conventional properties of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) showed that <i>E. hormaechei</i> J146 produced up to 550 mg·L<sup>−1</sup> of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Siderophores and ammonia were produced by all strains but cellulase was restricted to <i>B. halotolerans</i> J143, whereas proteases were missing in <i>E. hormaechei</i> J146 and <i>P. frederiksbergensis</i> J158. <i>E. hormaechei</i> J146 tolerate up to 1.5 mg·L<sup>−1</sup> of copper and cadmium, while <i>B. halotolerans</i> J143 withstood 1.5 mg·L<sup>−1</sup> of nickel. Strains <i>B. halotolerant</i> J143, <i>E. hormaechei</i> J146, and <i>P. frederiksbergensis</i> J158 remarkably improved wheat seed germination, plant growth, and Zn absorption. Lastly, nutrient measurement revealed that a wheat plant inoculated with <i>E. hormaechei</i> J146 and <i>P. frederiksbergensis</i> J158 increased its nitrogen and potassium uptake by up to 17%.
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