Genetic diversity of phosphate-solubilizing peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) associated bacteria and mechanisms involved in this ability

Abstract

In this study, attempts were made to analyze mechanisms involved in the bacterial phosphate-solubilizing ability of peanut isolates. Bacteria were taxonomically identified by analysis of 16S rDNA sequence. Levels of soluble P released by the isolates in unbuffered or buffered with Tris–HCl or MES NBRIP-BPB medium as well as the production of D-gluconic acid were determined in their culture. Presence of two of the genes encoding the cofactor PQQ of GDH enzyme was analyzed in the genome of this bacterial collection. 16S rDNA sequence analysis indicated that isolates belong to genera Serratia, Enterobacter, Pantoea, Acinetobacter, Bacillus and Enterococcus. All bacteria showed ability to solubilize tricalcium phosphate either in unbuffered or buffered medium. Nevertheless, addition of buffer solutions reduced levels of Pi liberated by the isolates. Although almost all isolates produced detectable amounts of D-gluconic acid, no correlation with levels of P soluble released were observed. The presence of pqqE and pqqC genes was detected only in Gram negative bacteria. It was concluded from this study that the mechanism involved in phosphate solubilization is organic acids production and, presence of pqq genes in all Gram negative bacteria analyzed encourages to confirm their role in bacterial phosphate solubilizing ability as well to identify genes involved in this PGP trait in Gram positive bacteria.