Skip to main content
PMC home page
Indian Journal of Microbiology logoLink to Indian Journal of Microbiology
. 2007 Jun 14;47(1):57–63. doi: 10.1007/s12088-007-0011-0

Ability of Emericella rugulosa to mobilize unavailable P compounds during Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] crop under arid condition

B K Yadav 1,✉, J C Tarafdar 1
PMCID: PMC3450231  PMID: 23100641

Abstract

Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms are ubiquitous in soils and could play an important role in supplying P to plants where plant unavailable P content in soil was more. A phosphatase and phytase producing fungus Emericella rugulosa was isolated and tested under field condition (Pearl millet as a test crop) in a loamy sand soil. In the experimental soil 68% organic phosphorous was present as phytin; less than 1% of phosphorous was present in a plant available form. The maximum effect of inoculation on different enzyme activities (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, phytase, and dehydrogenase) was observed between 5 and 8 weeks of plant age. The depletion of organic P was much higher than mineral and phytin P. The microbial contribution was significantly higher than the plant contribution to the hydrolysis of the different P fractions. A significant improvement in plant biomass, root length, seed and straw yield and P concentration of root and shoot resulted from inoculation. The results suggest that Emericella rugulosa produces phosphatases and phytase, which mobilize P and enhance the production of pearl millet.

Key words: Emericella rugulosa, pearl millet, acid and alkaline phosphatase, phytase, P mobilization

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (334.6 KB).

References

  • 1.Rodriguez H., Fraga R. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria and their role in plant growth promotion. Biotechnol Adv. 1990;17:319–339. doi: 10.1016/S0734-9750(99)00014-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Sanyal S. K., Datta S. K. Chemistry of phosphorus transformation in soil. Adv Soil Sci. 1991;16:1–120. [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Tarafdar J.C., Claassen N. Organic phosphorus compounds as a phosphorus source for higher plants through the activity of phosphatases produced by plant roots and microorganisms. Biol Fert Soils. 1988;5:308–312. doi: 10.1007/BF00262137. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Tarafdar J.C., Yadav R.S., Niwas R. Relative efficiency of fungal intra-and extracellular phosphatases and phytase. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci. 2002;165:7–20. doi: 10.1002/1522-2624(200202)165:1<17::AID-JPLN17>3.0.CO;2-C. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Mcgill W.B., Cole C.V. Comparative aspects of C, N, S and P cycling through soil organic matter during pedogenesis. Geoderma. 1981;26:267–286. doi: 10.1016/0016-7061(81)90024-0. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Richardson A.E. Soil microorganisms and phosphorus availability. In: Pankhurst C.E., Doulse B.M., Gupta V.V.S.R., Grace P.R., editors. Soil Biota Management in Sustainable Farming Systems. Australia: CSIRO; 1994. pp. 50–62. [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Whitelaw M.A., Harden T.J., Helyar K. Phosphate solubilisation in solution culture by the soil fungus Penicillium radicum. Soil Biol Biochem. 1999;31:655–665. doi: 10.1016/S0038-0717(98)00130-8. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Tarafdar J.C., Marschner H. Dual inoculation with Aspergillus fumigatus and Glomus mossae enhances biomass production and nutrient uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) supplied with organic phosphorus as Na-phytate. Plant Soil. 1995;173:97–102. doi: 10.1007/BF00155522. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Wyss M., Brugger R., Kronenberger A., Remy R., Fimbel R., Oesterhelt G., Lehmann M., Loon A.P. Biochemical characterization of fungal phytases (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolases): catalytic properties. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1999;65:367–373. doi: 10.1128/aem.65.2.367-373.1999. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Yadav R.S., Tarafdar J.C. Phytase and phosphatase producing fungi in arid and semi-arid soils and their efficiency in hydrolyzing different organic P compounds. Soil Biol Biochem. 2003;35:745–751. doi: 10.1016/S0038-0717(03)00089-0. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Tarafdar J.C., Chhonkar P.K. Phosphatase production by microorganisms isolated from diverse types of soils. Zbl Bakt. 1979;134:119–122. doi: 10.1016/s0323-6056(79)80037-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Allen ON (1959) Experiments in soil bacteriology. Burgess Publishing Co, 117 p.
  • 13.Tennant D. A test of a modified line intersects method of estimating root length. J Ecol. 1975;63:995–1001. doi: 10.2307/2258617. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Kitson R.E., Mellon M.G. Colorimetric determination of phosphorus molybdovanadophosphoric acid. Ind Eng Chem Anal Ed. 1944;16:379–383. doi: 10.1021/i560130a017. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Tabatabai M.A., Bremner J.M. Use of p-nitrophenyl phosphate for assay of soil phosphatase activity. Soil Biol Biochem. 1969;1:301–307. doi: 10.1016/0038-0717(69)90012-1. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Ames B.N. Assay of inorganic phosphate, total phosphate and phosphatases. Method Enzymol. 1966;8:115–118. [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Tabatabai M.A. Soil enzymes. In: Page A.L., Miller R.H., Kenney D.R., editors. Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2. Madison, Wisconsin, USA: Am Soc Agron; 1982. pp. 903–947. [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Jackson M.L. Soil Chemical Analysis. Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India; 1967. [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Sokal R.R., Roholf F.J. Biometry-The Principles and Practice of Statistics in Biological Research. New York: W.H. Freeman and Co; 1981. [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Herrera M.A., Salamanka C.P., Barea J.M. Inoculation of woody legumes with selected arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia to recover desertified Mediterranean ecosystems. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1993;59:129–133. doi: 10.1128/aem.59.1.129-133.1993. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Glick B.R. The enhancement of plant growth by free living bacteria. Can J Microbiol. 1995;41:109–117. doi: 10.1139/m95-015. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Requena B.N., Jimenez I., Toro M., Barea J.M. Interactions between plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium spp. in the rhizosphere of Anthyllis cytiisoides, a model legume for revegetation in Mediterranean semi-arid ecosystem. New Phytologist. 1997;136:667–677. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-8137.1997.00786.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Hinsinger P. How do plant roots acquire mineral nutrients Chemical processes involved in the rhizosphere. Adv. Agron. 1998;64:225–265. [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Lajtha K., Harrison A.F. Strategies of phosphorus acquisition and conservation by plant species and communities. In: Tiessen H., editor. Phosphorus in the Global Environment-Transfers, Cycles and Management. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons; 1995. pp. 139–147. [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Hübel F., Beck E. In-situ determination of the P-relations around the primary root of maize with respect to inorganic and phytase-P. Plant Soil. 1993;157:1–9. [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Hinsinger P., Gilkes R.J. Dissolution of phosphate rock in the rhizosphere of fine plant species grown in an acid P-fixing mineral substrate. Geoderma. 1997;75:231–249. doi: 10.1016/S0016-7061(96)00094-8. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Barber S.A. Soil Nutrient Bioavailability. A Mechanistic Approach. New York: John Wiley and Sons; 1984. [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Dalal R.C. Soil organic phosphorus. Adv Agron. 1978;29:83–117. [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Yadav R.S., Tarafdar J.C. Influence of organic and inorganic phosphorus supply on the maximum secretion of acid phosphatase by plants. Biol Fertil Soils. 2001;34:140–143. doi: 10.1007/s003740100376. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Tarafdar J.C. Use of electrofocussing technique for characterizing the phosphatases in the soil and root exudates. J Ind Soc Soil Sci. 1989;37:393–395. [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Li M., Osaki M., Honma M., Tadano T. Purification and characterization of phytase induced in tomato roots under phosphorus deficient conditions. Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 1997;43:179–190. [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Tarafdar J.C., Marschner H. Phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere and hyphosphere of a VA mycorrhizal wheat supplied with inorganic and organic phosphorus. Soil Biol Biochem. 1994;26:387–395. doi: 10.1016/0038-0717(94)90288-7. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Skujins J. Dehydrogenase activity: an indicator of biological activity in arid soils. Bull Ecol Res Comm. 1973;17:235–241. [Google Scholar]
  • 34.Greaves M.P., Webley D.M. The hydrolysis of myoinositol hexaphosphate by soil microorganisms. Soil Biol Biochem. 1969;1:37–43. doi: 10.1016/0038-0717(69)90032-7. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 35.Jones D. L. Organic acids in the rhizosphere — a critical review. Plant Soil. 1998;205:25–44. doi: 10.1023/A:1004356007312. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 36.Yadav B. K., Tarafdar J. C. Phytase activity in the rhizosphere of crops, trees and grasses under arid environment. J Arid Environ. 2004;56:285–293. doi: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2003.08.005. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 37.Richardson A. E., Hadobas P. A., Hayes J. E., Hara C. P., Simpson R. J. Utilization of phosphorus and pasture plants supplied with myo-inositol hexaphosphate is enhanced by the presence of soil micro-organisms. Plant Soil. 2001;229:47–56. doi: 10.1023/A:1004871704173. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 38.Neumann G & Römheld V (2000) The release of root exudates as affected by the plant’s physiological status. In: The rhizosphere, biochemistry and organic substances at the soil-plant interface (Pinton R, Varanini Z & Nannipieri P eds). Marcel Dekker Inc, pp 41–93
  • 39.Kucey R. M. N., Janzen H. H., Leggett M. E. Microbially mediated increases in plant-available phosphorus. Adv Agron. 1989;42:199–228. doi: 10.1016/S0065-2113(08)60525-8. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 40.Rao A. V., Bala K., Tarafdar J.C. Dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities in soil as influenced by the growth of arid-land crops. J Agric Sci. 1990;115:221–225. doi: 10.1017/S0021859600075158. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Indian Journal of Microbiology are provided here courtesy of Springer

RESOURCES