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Organic acid production and plant growth promotion as a function of phosphate solubilization by Acinetobacter rhizosphaerae strain BIHB 723 isolated from the cold deserts of the trans-Himalayas

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Abstract

An efficient phosphate-solubilizing plant growth–promoting Acinetobacter rhizosphaerae strain BIHB 723 exhibited significantly higher solubilization of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) than Udaipur rock phosphate (URP), Mussoorie rock phosphate (MRP) and North Carolina rock phosphate (NCRP). Qualitative and quantitative differences were discerned in the gluconic, oxalic, 2-keto gluconic, lactic, malic and formic acids during the solubilization of various inorganic phosphates by the strain. Gluconic acid was the main organic acid produced during phosphate solubilization. Formic acid production was restricted to TCP solubilization and oxalic acid production to the solubilization of MRP, URP and NCRP. A significant increase in plant height, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root length, root dry weight, and root, shoot and soil phosphorus (P) contents was recorded with the inoculated treatments over the uninoculated NP0K or NPTCPK treatments. Plant growth promotion as a function of phosphate solubilization suggested that the use of bacterial strain would be a beneficial addition to the agriculture practices in TCP-rich soils in reducing the application of phosphatic fertilizers.

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Fig. 1

Abbreviations

Ar :

Acinetobacter rhizosphaerae

AMSL:

Above mean sea level

NCBI:

National Centre for Biotechnology Information

NCRP:

North Carolina rock phosphate

PSRB:

Phosphate-solubilizing rhizobacteria

SSP:

Single super phosphate

TCP:

Tricalcium phosphate

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Acknowledgments

Authors acknowledge the Director, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR), for providing the necessary facilities. Thanks are also due to Prof. (Dr.) Kamlesh Singh, Department of Statistics, Mathematics and Physics, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (Agriculture University), Palampur and Dr. R. D. Singh, Biodiversity Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, for advice on statistical analysis. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India, is also acknowledged for the financial support under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Network Project “Exploitation of India’s Rich Microbial Wealth” (NWP 006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, Hill Area Tea Science Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR), P.O. Box No. 6, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176 061, India

    Arvind Gulati, Natasha Sharma, Pratibha Vyas, Swati Sood & Praveen Rahi

  2. Analytical Laboratory, Natural Plant Product Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR), P.O. Box No. 6, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176 061, India

    Vijaylata Pathania

  3. Soil Testing Laboratory, Hill Area Tea Science Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR), P.O. Box No. 6, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176 061, India

    Ramdeen Prasad

Authors
  1. Arvind Gulati
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  2. Natasha Sharma
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  3. Pratibha Vyas
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  4. Swati Sood
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  5. Praveen Rahi
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  6. Vijaylata Pathania
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  7. Ramdeen Prasad
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Correspondence to Arvind Gulati.

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Communicated by Ursula Priefer.

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Gulati, A., Sharma, N., Vyas, P. et al. Organic acid production and plant growth promotion as a function of phosphate solubilization by Acinetobacter rhizosphaerae strain BIHB 723 isolated from the cold deserts of the trans-Himalayas. Arch Microbiol 192, 975–983 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-010-0615-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-010-0615-3

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