TITLE:
Isolation and Screening of Silicate Bacteria from Various Habitats for Biological Control of Phytopathogenic Fungi
AUTHORS:
Zakira Naureen, Muhammad Aqeel, Muhammad Nadeem Hassan, Syed Abdullah Gilani, Nahla Bouqellah, Fazal Mabood, Javid Hussain, Fauzia Y. Hafeez
KEYWORDS:
Silicate Solubilizing Bacteria, Biocontrol, Phytopathogenic Fungi
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.6 No.18,
November
16,
2015
ABSTRACT: Silicate solubilizing bacteria (SSB) can play an efficient role in soil by solubilizing insoluble forms
of silicates. In addition to this some SSB can also solubilize potassium and phosphates, hence increasing
soil fertility and enhancing plant defense mechanisms. A total of 111 bacterial strains
were isolated from various habitats of Pakistan and screened for solubilization of silicate, phosphate
and potassium on respective media. Out of these, 35 bacterial isolates were capable of solubilizing
either silicate, phosphate or potassium. Amongst these 7 bacterial isolates were capable of
solubilizing all three minerals tested. The highest silicate (zone diameter 54 mm) and phosphate
solubilization (zone diameter 55 mm) was observed for bacterial isolate NR-2 while the highest
potassium solubilization was observed for NE-4b (zone diameter 11 mm). Dual culture antagonistic
assays were carried out by using these bacterial isolates against four plant pathogenic fungi
Magnaporthae grisae, Rhizoctonia solani, Altarnaria alternata and Macrophomina pheasolina.
Mean zone of inhibition of these bacterial isolates against the four pathogenic fungi ranged between
4 mm to 39 mm. The largest zone of inhibition against all four bacterial strains was recorded
for bacterial isolate NR-2 followed by NE-4b. These strains will be further investigated for their
plant growth promoting activities in the future.