Isolation and characterization of potential plant growth-promoting bacteria from sugarcane

Sugarcane (Saccharum hybrid) is one of the most important agricultural crops globally, accounting for more than 70% of the world sugar and more recently as a source for renewable energy and biomaterials (Dillon et al. 2007). Sugarcane is cultivated in over 110 tropical and subtropical countries. In Argentina, sugarcane is produced on 365,000 ha and is the most important agroindustrial activity, economically and socially, in the provinces of Tucuman, Salta and Jujuy