Abstract:
This study evaluated the in vitro efficiency of solubilizing different types of phosphate by bacteria
isolated from the rhizosphere of rice at harvesting stage and cultivated in an Alfisol in Maha
Illuppallama, dry zone of Sri Lanka. Soil suspensions were initially plated on Pikovskaya’s (PVK)
medium to screen phosphorous solubilizing bacteria (PSB). Thirty-two morphologically different
bacterial colonies developed on PVK medium were inoculated to PVK, National Botanical Research
Institute's phosphate (NBRIP-Ca3(PO4)2) growth medium and Soy Lecithin media to quantify their
phosphate solubilizing indices (SI). Among the 32 isolates, 10, 16 and 9 developed halos on PVK,
NBRIP-Ca3(PO4)2 and Soy Lecithin media, respectively. The SI values of the 10 isolates on PVK
medium ranged from 2.37-4.14 and it ranged from 0.05-3.35 on NBRIP medium for the 16 isolates.
SI values of the 9 isolates on Soy Lecithin medium ranged between 7.97-21. All the isolates that
solubilized soy lecithin produced clear zones on PVK and NBRIP-Ca3(PO4)2 media, indicating the
broad-spectrum ability of those isolates to solubilize both inorganic and organic phosphorous.
Cultures of LL, JJ, P, Y, A, M, U, X, D, L, O and N solubilized Eppawala rock phosphate (ERP) by
increasing the phosphorous concentration in the growth medium from 0.19 to 0.33 mg/L
compared to 0.01 mg/L in un-inoculated control. The isolate M, O, N, U, Y, X, A solubilized both
organic and inorganic phosphorous forms including ERP. Compatibility of potential phosphorous
solubilizers was tested to select candidates to be used in a consortium. Results of the
incompatibility test revealed that the isolate A and LL and I are incompatible as well as the isolate
M and X. Findings of the present study demonstrated the possibility of combining a large number
of bacterial isolates for solubilizing organic and inorganic phosphorous and ERP. Isolate X and A
can be excluded from the group of potential candidates as they showed incompatibility at in vitro
with the isolates M and LL, respectively which are high performers in solubilizing organic,
inorganic phosphorus and ERP. Therefore, isolates LL, M, N, O, U and Y could be included to form
a consortium
