Screening of multi-faceted phosphate-solubilising bacterium from seagrass meadow and their plant growth promotion under saline stress condition

• Published in: Microbiological research 2022-08, Vol.261, p.127080-127080, Article 127080
• Main Authors: Saranya, Kailasam, Sundaramanickam, Arumugam, Manupoori, Sathish, Kanth, Swarna Vinodh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofertiliser; Isolation; Marine bacteria; Soil salinity
• ISSN: 0944-5013; 1618-0623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127080

Soil salinity is one of the major limiting factors of the crop production, it has been constantly increasing in agricultural land due to the impact of climate change and urbanisation. High salinity in the agrolands can lead ionic, oxidative, osmotic and water stress to crops. A potential phosphate solubilising bacterium, Curtobacterium luteum was isolated from marine environment (seagrass meadow) and was evaluated for the enhancement of plant growth promotion of three different agro plants (rice, tomato and chilli) using agro saline soil. The strain C. luteum exhibited efficient phosphate solubilisation in both qualitative (SI-2.88) and quantitative (208.41 µg/ml) analysis at optimised conditions. In addition to phosphate solubilisation, it showed numerous valuable traits to promote plant growth such as - production of organic acids (Tartaric and malic acids), phosphatase, phytase (SI-2.9), IAA (4.1 µg/ml), urease and nitrogen fixation. The bacterium potentially enhances the plant growth under saline stress conditions and exhibited prominent plant growth promotion in all the three plants (rice, tomato and chilli) compared to the control. Also, it enhances the concentration of phosphorous in the soil and balances the soil pH. The present results indicate that the C. luteum can serve as a multifaceted biofertilizer under saline stress condition and be an effective alternative to the toxic chemical phosphate fertilizers that cater to the single purpose of providing phosphorous to plants. •A potential marine phosphate solubilising bacteria was isolated from seagrass meadow and identified as Curtobacterium luteum.•Production of multiple secondary metabolites were revealed by the bacterium.•C. luteum enhanced the plant growth promotion efficiently under saline stress condition and promote biofortification in soil.