Isolation and Characterization of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria from Rhizosphere Soil of Weeds of Khewra Salt Range and Attock

During the present study rhizosphere soil of four halophytic weeds viz., Chrysopogon aucheri, Lactuca dissecta, Solanum surattense and Sonchus arvensis growing in saline soil of Khewra salt range and Solanum surattense growing in arid region of Attock were used for isolating phosphate solubilizing bacteria. The objective of this study was to explore the abilities of phosphate solubilization, production of stress hormone ABA (abscisic acid) and bacteriocin production of isolates. Only one isolate was selected randomly from culture of each plant rhizosphere soil. The isolates were preliminary identified on the basis of their morphology and biochemical characters. The isolates were able to solubilize tricalcium phosphate in broth cultures, the isolate 2P from rhizosphere soil of Lactuca dissecta and 1P from rhizosphere soil of Chrysopogon aucheri being more efficient. Least amount of phosphorous was solubilized by isolate 5P from rhizosphere soil of Solanum surattense growing in arid soil of Attock. Among all isolates maximum abscisic acid production was recorded in isolate 2P while least amount of ABA was produced by 1P. Bacterial isolates were also observed for bacteriocin production. Isolates 2P and 3P were able to produce bacteriocin, 2P produced bacteriocin of higher potency. The isolates used as inoculants, promoted growth of chickpea. The isolate 2P from rhizosphere soil of Lactuca dissecta growing in Khewra salt range having the ability of greater quantity of phosphorous solubilization, higher production of abscisic acid and bacteriocin, can be selected in the formulation of biofertilizer.