Bioprospecting of Plant Growth Promoting Bacilli and Related Genera Prevalent in Soils of Pristine Sacred Groves: Biochemical and Molecular Approach.
Bacillus spp. and related genera native to soils of the pristine sacred groves from Meghalaya, India were characterized using biochemical and 16S rRNA gene analysis which revealed dominance of Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Lysinibacillus and Viridibacillus in the groves. Biochemical estimation was carried out for in vitro testing of plant growth promoting traits present in these isolates. PCR screening were performed for plant growth-promoting related genes involved in the biosynthesis of acid phosphatase (AcPho), indolepyruvate decarboxylase (ipdC), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (accd) and siderophore biosynthesis protein (asbA). 76% of the sacred grove isolates gave an amplified fragment for AcPho. Three of the isolates gave an amplified fragment for IpdC gene. Apart from 2 isolates, all the other isolates including the reference strains were positive for the amplification of the accd gene indicating their potential to produce ACC deaminase enzyme. 42% of the isolates gave an amplified fragment for asbA gene indicating the potential ability of these isolates to produce the catechol type siderophore, petrobactin. Overall findings indicated multiple PGP genetic traits present in these isolates which suggested that these isolates are capable of expressing multiple PGP traits. Phylogenetic and sequence analysis of accd and asbA genes from the isolates revealed that asbA genes from Paenibacillus taichungiensis SG3 and Paenibacillus tylopili SG24 indicated the occurrence of intergeneric horizontal transfer between Paenibacillus and Bacillus.
Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, North - Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
Nathaniel A
NA
Lyngwi
Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, North - Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
Macmillan
M
Nongkhlaw
Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, North - Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
Debajit
D
Kalita
Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, North - Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
Santa Ram
SR
Joshi
D001407:Bacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D010802:Phylogeny; D063245:Plant Development; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S