Anjaly Yadav, Mahendra Singh, Alok Kumar Pandey, Suresh Kumar, Tripti Mishra, Nempal Verma and Shayar Mal Yadav
Abstract
The present study investigated the isolation, characterization, and functional evaluation of native phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) from rhizospheric soils of alkaline agro-ecosystems, to enhance Phosphorus (P) availability and soil biological health. Four PSB isolates were isolated, and out of four, the most potent isolate was identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain ND-11 based on morphological, biochemical, and limited molecular (16S rRNA) characterization. Biochemical profiling revealed considerable metabolic diversity among the isolates, including universal catalase activity, citrate utilization, nitrate reduction, and differential expression of oxidase, urease, and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, highlighting their ecological adaptability and nutrient-mobilizing potential. Highest P solubilization was observed at 7 days after inoculation (DAI). (409.60 mg L-1), IAA production (43.30 µg ml-¹), GA3 production (28.43 µg ml-¹), broth pH reduction (4.43) and OD600 value (1.45) were achieved by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain ND-11 in the incubation study. The increasing demand for sustainable agriculture has intensified research on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), as a promising candidate due to its diverse biochemical capabilities and adaptability to soil environments.