microorganisms Article Potential PGPR Properties of Cellulolytic, Nitrogen-Fixing, Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria in Rehabilitated Tropical Forest Soil Amelia Tang 1, Ahmed Osumanu Haruna 1,2,3,*, Nik Muhamad Ab. Majid 3 and Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh 4 1 Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia;
[email protected] 2 Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia 3 Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia;
[email protected] 4 Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sandakan Branch, Locked Bag No. 3, Sandakan 90509, Sabah, Malaysia;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] Received: 26 January 2020; Accepted: 20 February 2020; Published: 20 March 2020 Abstract: In the midst of the major soil degradation and erosion faced by tropical ecosystems, rehabilitated forests are being established to avoid the further deterioration of forest lands. In this context, cellulolytic, nitrogen-fixing (N-fixing), phosphate-solubilizing bacteria are very important functional groups in regulating the elemental cycle and plant nutrition, hence replenishing the nutrient content in forest soils. As is the case for other potential plant growth-promoting (PGP) rhizobacteria, these functional bacteria could have cross-functional abilities or beneficial traits that are essential for plants and can