Abstract:
Phosphates solubilizing bacterial strains belong to Pantoea, Burkholderia and Enterobacter were isolated and
employed in assessing their solubilization ability of Ca phosphate and ER phosphate (Eppawala Rock
Phosphate). Among the bacterial strains used, PSB-13 (Pantoea rodasii) showed higher Ca-phosphate
solubilization (1100 µg ml-1) as well as rock phosphate solubilization (168 µg ml-1). The strain was then
immobilized in agar to further assess its phosphate solubilization ability. According to the results, agar
encapsulated strain solubilized 0.3%, 7.31%, 20.24%, and 20.62% more Ca-phosphate and 11.53%, 15.29%,
28.48%, 36.55% (respectively in 4 cycles) more ER- phosphate than free cells. The reuse efficiency of agar
entrapped bacterial cells for Ca-phosphate and ER-phosphate solubilization was greater than that by freely
suspended bacterial cells. In conclusion, immobilization could enhance the phosphate solubilization capacity
of the strains and thus could be used effectively in enhancing solubilization of ER phosphate.
