Characterisation of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from the rhizosphere soil and roots of Cannabis sativa in South Africa

Research data for the dissertation titled "Characterising the biodiversity and antagonistic activity of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria associated with Cannabis sativa in South Africa." The aim of the study was to characterise PGPR from the rhizosphere soil and roots of C. sativa from three provinces in South Africa. A total of 180 PGPR were isolated from the rhizosphere soil and roots of C. sativa from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Free State (FS), and North West (NW) and characterised and screened for plant growth-promoting traits using phenotypic and biochemical tests. Based on the in vitro screening, isolates with multiple beneficial growth-promoting traits were evaluated for their ability to improve plant growth under greenhouse conditions. The microbial biodiversity of the rhizosphere was also analysed using DNA-based and functional techniques.