Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

SCREENING OF CARRIER MATERIALS FOR IMPROVED SHELFLIFE OF MICROBIAL CONSORTIA

Y. Kavya, N. Trimurtulu and A. Vijaya Gopal

Abstract

Screening of different carrier materials for the improved shelf life of microbial consortia was carried under in vitro conditions. Two different microbial consortia (MC1 and MC2) were screened against different out carrier materials like peat, lignite, vermiculite and charcoal powder. Peat, lignite and vermiculite supported highest viability of KRB in microbial consortium 1 and PSB in microbial consortium 2. Charcoal powder showed highest viability of PSB in MC1 and KRB in MC2. Azospirillium, PSB, KRB, ZnSB and PGPR isolate of MC1 survived better in peat (T1) compared to lignite (T2) followed by vermiculite (T3) and charcoal powder (T4). While, Azotobacter, PSB, KRB, ZnSB and PGPR isolate of MC2 survived better in lignite (T6) compared to peat (T5) followed by vermiculite (T7) and charcoal powder (T8). While Azospirillium survived well in lignite (T6) compared to peat (T5) followed by charcoal powder (T8) and vermiculite (T7). Peat and lignite performed better compared to other carrier materials.