Breedt, GerhardusKorsten, LiseGokul, Jarishma Keriuscia2026-03-062026-03-062025-12Breedt, G., Korsten, L., Gokul, J.K. 2025, 'Enhancing multi‑season wheat yield through plant growth‑promoting rhizobacteria using consortium and individual isolate applications', Folia Microbiologica, vol. 70, pp. 1295-1304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-025-01245-9.0015-5632 (print)1874-9356 (online)10.1007/s12223-025-01245-9http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108816AVAILABILITY DATA : The whole genome sequence data generated in this study are available in the NCBI repository under accession numbers SAMN 19982556 for T19 and SAMN19982557 for T29. The datasets generated and/or analysed can be made available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in harnessing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a possible mechanism to mitigate the environmental impact of conventional agricultural practices and promote sustainable agricultural production. This study investigated the transferability of promising PGPR research from maize to another Poaceae cereal crop, wheat. This multi-seasonal study evaluated the wheat grain yield effect of Lysinibacillus sphaericus (T19), Paenibacillus alvei (T29) when applied i. individually, ii. as a consortium with Bacillus safensis (S7), and iii. at a 75% reduced fertilizer rate. Whole genome sequencing allowed annotation of genes linked to plant growth promotion, providing potential genomic explanations for the observed in-field findings. Application of the consortium compared to a commercial PGPR showed significantly increased wheat yield by 30.71%, and 25.03%, respectively, in season one, and 63.92% and 58.45%, respectively, under reduced fertilizer rates in season two. Individual application of T19 and T29 showed varying results, with T19 increasing wheat yield by 9.33% and 16.22% during seasons three and four but a substantial reduction (33.39%) during season five. T29 exhibited yield increases during season three (9.31%) and five (5.61%) but led to a significant reduction (21.15%) in season four. Genomic analysis unveiled a spectrum of plant growth-promoting genes including those associated with ammonification, phosphate solubilization, ethylene, siderophore, catalase, and superoxide dismutase production. These findings offer valuable insights into the mechanisms behind observed field results, with potential implications for advancing sustainable agriculture and crop productivity in evolving agricultural landscapes.en© The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License 4.0.Wheat yield enhancementReduced fertilizer applicationPlant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)BiofertilizersWhole genome sequencing (WGS)BiocontrolArticle