Phosphate Solubilization and Plant Growth Promotion by Crop Associated Bacteria

Fourteen bacterial strains were isolated from crop rhizosphere and identified as phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) by 16S rRNA analysis. Only 3 strains exhibited a strong ability to solubilize insoluble phosphate in agar medium containing a hydroxyapatite. The rates of P solubilization by isolates were ranged from 200 and 2300 mg L -1 , which are inversely correlated with pH in culture medium. Furthermore, HPLC analyses reveal the production of organic acid from the culture filtrates of PSB. Among these, strain Acinetobacter sp. released only gluconic acid, Pseudomonas orientalis produced gluconic acid which was subsequently converted into 2-ketogluconic acid, and Enterobacter asburiae released acetic acid and succinic acid. On the other hand, P. orientalis and E. asburiae released 372 mg L -1 and 191 mg L -1 of IAA into broth culture, respectively, while Acinetobacter sp. did not produce IAA. Furthermore, in vivo study showed that plant growth promoting effect by bacteria generally seemed to be increased IAA production and phosphate solubilization.