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Biological nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization by bacteria isolated from tropical soils

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Abstract

Introduction

In addition to fixing atmospheric nitrogen, some bacterial isolates can also solubilize insoluble phosphates, further contributing to plant growth.

Aims

The objectives of this study were the following: isolate, select, and identify nodulating bacteria in the cowpea that are efficient not only in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) but also in the solubilization of insoluble inorganic phosphates; identify and quantify the organic acids produced; and establish the relationship between those acids and the solubilizing capacity.

Methods

The bacteria were captured from two soils containing high concentrations of insoluble phosphorus from the cities of Lavras and Patos de Minas, using the cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] as bait. We obtained 78 strains, which were characterized according to their cultural attributes in culture medium 79 with the strains UFLA 03-84, INPA 03-11B, and BR3267 (approved by the Ministry of Livestock and Supply Agriculture—MAPA, as inoculants for the cowpea) and Burkholderia cepacia (LMG1222T), which was used as a positive control for phosphate solubilization. Strains that were selected for their efficiency in both processes were identified by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. We evaluated the symbiotic efficiency (BNF) in a greenhouse and the solubilization efficiency of CaHPO4, Al(H2PO4)3, and FePO4.2H2O in solid and liquid GELP media. Strains that excelled at the solubilization of these phosphate sources were also evaluated for the production of the following organic acids: oxalic, citric, gluconic, lactic, succinic, and propionic.

Results

The presence of Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Firmicutes, Microbacterium, Paenibacillus, and Rhizobium was detected by 16S rDNA sequencing and analysis. Bacterial strains obtained from cowpea nodules varied greatly in the efficiency of their BNF and phosphate solubilization processes, especially in the strains UFLA 03-09, UFLA 03-10, UFLA 03-12, and UFLA 03-13, which were more efficient in both processes. More strains were able to solubilize insoluble inorganic calcium and iron phosphates in liquid medium than in solid medium. The production of organic acids was related to the solubilization of CaHPO4 and FePO4.2H2O for some strains, and the type and concentration of the acid influenced this process.

Conclusions

These are the first results obtained with bacterial isolates from tropical soils in which the production of organic acids was detected and quantified to examine the solubilization of insoluble inorganic phosphates.

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Acknowledgements

To Fundação de Amparo e Pesquisa de Minas Gerais (Fapemig) and CNPq, for granting a PhD Scholarship to L. Marciano Marra, B. Lima Soares and P.A. Avelar Ferreira; to Capes, for granting a PhD Scholarship to S.M. de Oliveira, and for granting a post-doc scholarship (PNPD) to C.R. Fonsêca Sousa Soares; to CNPq, for granting a productivity fellowship to J.M. de Lima and F.M. de Souza Moreira. To CNPq/MAPA project process 578635/2008-9.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate program of Soil Science—Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, P.O. 3037, 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil

    Leandro Marciano Marra, Cláudio Roberto Fonsêca Sousa Soares, Paulo Ademar Avelar Ferreira, Bruno Lima Soares, Renato de Fráguas Carvalho, José Maria de Lima & Fatima Maria de Souza Moreira

  2. Federal University of Santa Catarina, CCB-MIP, Campus Trindade, P.O. 476, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Cláudio Roberto Fonsêca Sousa Soares

  3. Postgraduate program of Agricultural Microbiology—Department of Biology, Federal University of Lavras, P.O. 3037, 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil

    Silvia Maria de Oliveira & Fatima Maria de Souza Moreira

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  1. Leandro Marciano Marra
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  2. Cláudio Roberto Fonsêca Sousa Soares
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  3. Silvia Maria de Oliveira
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  7. José Maria de Lima
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  8. Fatima Maria de Souza Moreira
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Correspondence to Fatima Maria de Souza Moreira.

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Responsible Editor: Bernard Glick.

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Marciano Marra, L., Fonsêca Sousa Soares, C.R., de Oliveira, S.M. et al. Biological nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization by bacteria isolated from tropical soils. Plant Soil 357, 289–307 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1157-z

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