Soil salinization is a serious ecological problem. Bacteria and cyanobacteria both have great potential for saline-alkali soil improvement. However, the effect of co-applying bacteria and cyanobacteria on soil improvement and crop growth promotion in saline-alkali soil remains unclear. In this study, the effects of Paenibacillus sabinae (potassium-solubilizing bacteria) and Leptolyngbya sp. RBD05 (cyanobacteria), produced in brewery wastewater, on soil properties, wheat growth, and wheat stress tolerance were studied by applying them to saline-alkali soil alone or in combination. The study indicated that P. sabinae and Leptolyngbya sp. RBD05 have important roles in increasing wheat growth, N:P ratio, K:Na ratio, proline content, and superoxide dismutase activity, as well as in slowing the decline of soil nutrient content caused by wheat absorption. Compared to the control group, the co-application had the best effect on soil available K content, wheat dry weight, and wheat root length (increased by 26%, 85%, and 70%, respectively); and it was more conducive to promoting the wheat K:Na ratio (increased by 41%), which would better improve the wheat’s saline-alkali stress tolerance. This study provided a new and clean strategy to improve saline-alkali soil quality and promote crop growth by the bacteria and cyanobacteria produced from wastewater treatment.

The TCP gene family encodes plant transcription factors crucial for regulating growth and development. While TCP genes have been identified in various species, they have not been studied in Phoebe bournei (Hemsl.). This study identified 29 TCP genes in the P. bournei genome, categorizing them into Class I (PCF) and Class II (CYC/TB1 and CIN). We conducted analyses on the PbTCP gene at both the protein level (physicochemical properties) and the gene sequence level (subcellular localization, chromosomal distribution, phylogenetic relationships, conserved motifs, and gene structure). Most P. bournei TCP genes are localized in the nucleus, except PbTCP9 in the mitochondria and PbTCP8 in both the chloroplast and nucleus. Chromosomal mapping showed 29 TCP genes unevenly distributed across 10 chromosomes, except chromosome 8 and 9. We also analyzed the promoter cis-regulatory elements, which are mainly involved in plant growth and development and hormone responses. Notably, most PbTCP transcription factors respond highly to light. Further analysis revealed three subfamily genes expressed in five P. bournei tissues: leaves, root bark, root xylem, stem xylem, and stem bark, with predominant PCF genes. Using qRT-PCR, we examined six representative genes—PbTCP16, PbTCP23, PbTCP7, PbTCP29, PbTCP14, and PbTCP15—under stress conditions such as high temperature, drought, light exposure, and dark. PbTCP14 and PbTCP15 showed significantly higher expression under heat, drought, light and dark stress. We hypothesize that TCP transcription factors play a key role in growth under varying light conditions, possibly mediated by auxin hormones. This work provides insights into the TCP gene family’s functional characteristics and stress resistance regulation in P. bournei.