RAVAL A.A, PATEL S.P., JATMALEK M.H. AND SHUKLA B.N.
Abstract
Siderophores are iron-chelating compounds of low molecular weight, secreted by microbes under iron-limiting conditions. The role of siderophores has gained much attention owing to their potential applications in medicine, agriculture, and environmental biotechnology. In the present investigation, soil samples were collected from an agricultural field and screened for siderophore-producing microorganisms. Isolation of the microorganisms was carried out by the serial dilution method and the spread plate technique on selective media. The isolates were characterized by employing morphological and biochemical techniques. They were then screened for siderophore production by employing the Chrome Azurol S agar plate assay method and the Chrome Azurol S shuttle assay method. 52.94% and 39.78% siderophore was produced by M1 isolate and B2 isolate, respectively which were the highest among the selected isolates. The selected positive isolates were further studied to ascertain the nature of the siderophores by the Arnowâs, Csakyâs, Vogelâs, and Tetrazolium tests. The siderophores were further assessed for their biological activity, antifungal, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimalarial potentials. Az showed the highest antidiabetic activity of 13.3% while 96.78% antioxidant activity was given by B8 isolate. The results also showed that the isolates produced considerable amount of siderophores, that exhibited inhibitory activity against the tested plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria. The results of the present study have immense potential to explore the role of soil microorganisms as a source of siderophores with vast applications in the field of agriculture and biomedicine.