"Isolates-- Burkholderia cepacia and Bacillus-- reported for the first time from Pawagadh mining region (Panchmahal district) are found to be efficient phosphate solubilisers," AAU Vice Chancellor A M Sheikh said.
"They have additional variety of plant growth promoting traits," he said, adding that the unique gene in sequence has been deposited at the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
Phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) are a group of beneficial bacteria capable of hydrolysing (breaking down of compound by chemical reaction) organic and inorganic phosphorus from insoluble compounds.
P-solubilisation ability of the micro organisms is considered to be one of the most important traits associated with plant phosphate nutrition.
"They by and large have potential to reduce phosphatic fertiliser application in cereal and pulses crops by upto 40 per cent. The trials here are being conducted on soyabean," Head Microbiology department AAU R V Vyas said.
"Compared to those from regular cultivable farmlands, the isolates from mine region show more potential to liberate phosphorus from calcareous soil (having tri calcium phsophate) found in Western states of Gujarat, Rajasthan & Maharashtra," he said.
"Additionally, they provide potash, a key soil nutrient required by the crops," Vyas said.(More)
