Screening for Zn solubilisation potential of soil bacteria from Zn deficient soils of Kerala

Screening for Zn solubilisation potential of soil bacteria from Zn deficient soils of Kerala

Authors

  • Aathira. S. Kumar Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture
  • K. S. Meenakumari Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture
  • K. N. Anith Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture

Keywords:

Bacillus, Screening of bacteria, Zinc solubilization

Abstract

Zinc plays an important role among the micronutrients that influence plant growth and productivity. Various microorganisms like bacteria and fungi have been reported to solubilise insoluble sources of zinc present in soil. In the present study, microorganisms capable of solubilising insoluble forms of zinc like zinc oxide and zinc phosphate were isolated from zinc deficient soils of Kerala. Ten isolates of bacteria which were able to solubilise insoluble form of zinc (zinc oxide) were obtained. The size of the solubilisation zone ranged from 8.67 mm to 13.33 mm for zinc oxide and 1.00 mm to 5.33 mm for zinc phosphate incorporated selective medium. In broth culture, maximum zinc solubilisation in both sources were observed on 30th day in the range of 35.91 ppm to 104.08 ppm for zinc oxide supplemented medium and 1.38 ppm to 4.15 ppm for zinc phosphate supplemented medium. The isolate ZSB-4 showed highest solubilisation of zinc in plate assay and broth assay. Morphological and molecular characterization studies revealed the identity of the bacteria as Bacillus cereus. The isolate ZSB-4 significantly increased the available zinc content in soil from 0.55 ppm to 9.47 ppm under soil incubation studies.

Author Biographies

Aathira. S. Kumar, Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture

Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture

K. S. Meenakumari, Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture

Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture

K. N. Anith, Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture

Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture

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Published

31-03-2017

How to Cite

Kumar, A. S., Meenakumari, K. S., & Anith, K. N. (2017). Screening for Zn solubilisation potential of soil bacteria from Zn deficient soils of Kerala. Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 54(2), 194. Retrieved from https://jtropag.kau.in/index.php/ojs2/article/view/383

Issue

Section

Short communications

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