Modified microplate method for rapid and efficient estimation of siderophore produced by bacteria

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Plant Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Siderophores are crucial for iron uptake in bacteria.
• Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance plant growth and health.
• Quantifying siderophore production is important for identifying effective PGPR strains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a rapid, efficient, and cost-effective method for quantifying siderophore production in PGPR.
• To compare the performance of a modified microplate assay with the standard chrome azurol sulphonate (CAS) assay.

Main Methods:

• Quantification of siderophore production in 23 bacterial isolates using the standard CAS assay.
• Estimation of siderophore production using a modified 96-well microplate method.
• Statistical correlation analysis between the results from both methods.

Main Results:

• Both the standard CAS assay and the modified microplate method yielded comparable results.
• A positive correlation was observed between the data obtained from both methods, validating the microplate assay.
• The modified microplate method proved to be faster, less tedious, and more economical.

Conclusions:

• The modified microplate method is a reliable and efficient tool for both qualitative and quantitative estimation of siderophore production.
• This method facilitates high-throughput screening of plant-associated bacteria for plant-growth-promoting traits.
• The proposed assay simplifies the characterization of PGPR with enhanced siderophore production capabilities.