ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Isolation, Characterization, and Growth Promotion
of Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria Associated
with Nicotiana Tabacum (Tobacco)
Lin Gao1, Fanyu Kong1, Chao Feng1, Jing Wang1, Jiaming Gao2,
Guoming Shen1, Chengsheng Zhang1
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1Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao 266101, PR China
2Tobacco Research Institute of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430000, PR China
Submission date: 2015-08-13
Final revision date: 2015-11-09
Acceptance date: 2016-02-16
Publication date: 2016-05-25
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(3):993-1003
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ABSTRACT
Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) increase phosphate bioavailability, thereby reducing the
application frequency of chemical fertilizers in the production of Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). In this
study, PSB were isolated from tobacco plants for the first time. These PSB were screened in vitro for their
ability to solubilize inorganic P (Pi) when grown in association with tobacco plants. Thirty-six PSB with the
ability to solubilize Pi were isolated and screened for their indolyl-3-acetic acid and siderophore-producing
capabilities. In addition, all 36 PSB strains had a partial fragment of their 16S rRNA gene sequenced.
The analysis revealed high sequence identity to 16S rDNA sequences from Bacillus, Arthrobacter,
Providencia, Enterobacter, Proteus, Psychrobacter, Serratia, Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas, Ochrobactrum,
and Acinetobacter. Of the 36 PSB strains analyzed, three (Psychrobacter alimentarius HB15, Enterobacter
ludwigii HB21, and Ochrobactrum haematophilum HB36) were selected for a controlled plant inoculation
experiment. Inoculation of tobacco plants with these bacterial strains significantly increased plant dry weight.
Additionally, inoculation increased P, K, and N uptake by tobacco seedlings as well as soil P availability.
The increases observed with inoculation were even more pronounced when tricalcium phosphate (TCP) was
added to the soil. The phosphate-solubilizing activity of these three strains was correlated with the release
of gluconic, tartaric, acetic, and citric organic acids. Overall, co-inoculation of PSB and TCP appears to
represent a promising option for increasing the yield of tobacco plants. The adoption of this technique could
provide a pathway to reducing fertilizer input in agricultural settings.