Providencia vermicola Predominates Culturable PGPM Communities in Malaysian Paddy Soils and Exhibits Multifunctional Activities

Plant growth‐promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) play a vital role in nutrient cycling and sustainable crop production. However, their community composition and functional traits in Malaysian paddy soils remain poorly characterized. Securing a deeper understanding of this regional diversity is essential for reducing chemical input reliance in rice agroecosystems. This study involved the recovery of 31 culturable microbial isolates from paddy field soils in IADA Barat Laut, Selangor, Malaysia. We employed morphological screening alongside biochemical assays to assess phosphate solubilization (PS), hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production, nitrogen fixation (NF), and urease (UR) activity. Molecular characterization included 16S rRNA sequencing for bacterial isolates and ITS sequencing for fungal isolates, followed by BLASTn identification and phylogenetic analysis using MEGA 11. The results revealed that 68% of the isolates were capable of solubilizing phosphate, 71% exhibited UR activity, 45% produced HCN, and 10% demonstrated NF. Providencia vermicola was the most frequently recovered bacterial species among the culturable isolates, occurring in five of the nine bacterial isolates selected for molecular identification. Multifunctional isolates such as TKa (PS, HCN production, UR activity), TK2 (PS, HCN production, NF), SB7, and SB8 (both with PS, HCN production, and UR activity) exhibited multiple PGPM traits. Additionally, fungal isolates, including Trichoderma asperellum , T. yunnanense , and Talaromyces adpressus , provided further biocontrol potential, emphasizing the importance of bacterial‐fungal interactions. These findings demonstrate the presence of multifunctional culturable PGPMs in Malaysian paddy soils and identify P. vermicola as a promising candidate for further functional and ecological investigation. The coexistence of multifunctional bacteria and antagonistic fungi supports the development of microbial consortia for use as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides in tropical rice cultivation.