Mineral Phosphate Solubilization by Wild Type and Radiation Induced Mutants of Pantoea dispersa and Pantoea terrae

Three mineral phosphate solubilizing (MPS) bacteria where isolated from rhizosphere soil samples of common bean and weed plants. 16S rDNA analysis indicated that the isolate P2 and P3 are closely related to Pantoea dispersa while isolate P4 is closely related to Pantoea terrae. Isolates P2 and P3 recorded $381.60{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ and $356.27{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) solubilization respectively on 3 days incubation. Isolate P4 recorded the TCP solubilization of $215.85{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ and the pH was dropped to 4.44 on 24 h incubation. Further incubation of P4 sharply decreased the available phosphorous to $28.94{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ and pH level was raised to 6.32. Gamma radiation induced mutagenesis was carried out at $LD_{99}$ dose of the wild type strains. The total of 14 mutant clones with enhanced MPS activity and 4 clones with decreased activity were selected based on solubilization index (SI) and phosphate solubilization assay. Mutant P2-M1 recorded the highest P-solubilizing potential among any other wild or mutant clones by releasing $504.21{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ of phosphorous i.e. 35% higher than its wild type by the end of day 5. A comparative evaluation of TCP solubilization by wild type isolates of Pantoea and their mutants, led to select three MPS mutant clones such as P2-M1, P3-M2 and P3-M4 with a potential to release >$471.67{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ of phosphorous from TCP. These over expressing mutant clones are considered as suitable candidates for biofertilization.