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Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacillus sp. Modulate Soil Exoenzyme Activities and Improve Wheat Growth
Zafar Iqbal1,2,3, Maqshoof Ahmad4, Muhammad Ali Raza5,6
1National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan. zaferiqbal31205@gmail.com.
Microbial Ecology
|January 16, 2024
Summary
Certain Bacillus bacteria strains can solubilize fixed soil phosphorus, enhancing its availability for cereal crops. This research highlights their potential to improve plant nutrition and agricultural sustainability.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Microbiology
- Soil Science
- Plant Nutrition
Background:
- Phosphorus (P) is essential for crop growth, but soil fixation limits its availability.
- Sustainable strategies are needed to enhance plant phosphorus uptake.
- Plant-associated bacteria offer potential solutions for improving phosphorus accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phosphate solubilizing mechanisms of plant-associated Bacillus species.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of specific bacterial strains in releasing fixed phosphorus.
- To explore the role of organic acids and exoenzymes in bacterial phosphorus solubilization.
Main Methods:
- Cultured four Bacillus strains (B. subtilis ZE15, ZR3; B. megaterium ZE32, ZR19) in Pikovskaya's broth with and without insoluble phosphorus (Ca3(PO4)2).
- Measured bacterial growth, phosphorus solubilization, organic acid production, and exoenzyme activities (phosphate esterase, ß-D glucosidase).
Main Results:
- Bacterial strains showed varied growth responses to insoluble phosphorus amendment.
- Bacillus subtilis ZE15 exhibited the highest in vitro phosphorus solubilization (130 µg mL-1).
- All strains produced organic acids, with higher yields in the presence of insoluble phosphorus.
- Strain ZE15 showed the highest phosphate esterase activity, and strain ZE32 showed the highest ß-D glucosidase activity.
Conclusions:
- Bacillus species effectively solubilize insoluble phosphorus through organic acid production and enhanced exoenzyme activity.
- These bacteria hold promise for improving phosphorus availability in agricultural soils.
- Further research can leverage these findings for developing microbial inoculants to enhance crop phosphorus uptake and reduce fertilizer requirements.
