Carolina Rufino de Souza

Mrs. Carolina Rufino de Souza


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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7 October 2025 in Microorganisms
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JNJuliana Ferreira Nunes
Juliana Ferreira Nunes
MSMaura Santos Reis de Andrade da Silva
Maura Santos Reis de Andrade da Silva
NONatally Fernandes Rocha de Oliveira
Natally Fernandes Rocha de Oliveira
CSCarolina Rufino de Souza
Carolina Rufino de Souza
FAFernanda S. Arcenio
Fernanda S. Arcenio
EZEveraldo Zonta
Everaldo Zonta
Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) offer a sustainable alternative for enhancing crop productivity in low-fertility tropical soils. In this study, 30 bacterial isolates were screened in vitro for multiple PGP traits, including phosphate solubilization (from aluminum phosphate—AlPO4 and thermophosphate), potassium release from phonolite rock, siderophore production, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis, ACC deaminase activity, and antagonism against Fusarium spp. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) among the isolates. The most efficient isolates demonstrated a solubilization capacity ranging from 24.0 to 45.2 mg L−1 for thermophosphate and 21.7 to 23.5 mg L−1 for potassium from phonolite. Among them, Pseudomonas azotoformans K22 showed the highest AlPO4 solubilization (16.6 mg L−1). IAA production among the isolates varied widely, from 1.34 to 9.65 µg mL−1. Furthermore, 17 isolates produced carboxylate-type siderophores, and only Pseudomonas aeruginosa SS183 exhibited ACC deaminase activity, coupled with strong antifungal activity (91% inhibition). A composite performance index identified P. azotoformans K22, E. hormaechei SS150, S. sciuri SS120, and B. cereus SS18 and SS17 as the most promising isolates. This study provides a valuable foundation for characterizing plant growth-promoting traits and identifies key candidates for future validation and the development of microbial consortia.