Plant growth promoting characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from coastal regions of Saurashtra Gujarat

Abstract Halophiles are a class of microorganisms that thrive in environments with very high salt concentrations. The coastal regions of Saurashtra Gujarat host a diverse group of microorganisms including halophilic and halotolerant bacteria that may have plant growth promoting characteristics. Micr...

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Main Authors: Likhindra Reang, Shraddha Bhatt, Rukam Singh Tomar, Kavita Joshi, Shital Padhiyar, U. M. Vyas, Jasmin Kumar Kheni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08151-x
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author Likhindra Reang
Shraddha Bhatt
Rukam Singh Tomar
Kavita Joshi
Shital Padhiyar
U. M. Vyas
Jasmin Kumar Kheni
author_facet Likhindra Reang
Shraddha Bhatt
Rukam Singh Tomar
Kavita Joshi
Shital Padhiyar
U. M. Vyas
Jasmin Kumar Kheni
author_sort Likhindra Reang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Halophiles are a class of microorganisms that thrive in environments with very high salt concentrations. The coastal regions of Saurashtra Gujarat host a diverse group of microorganisms including halophilic and halotolerant bacteria that may have plant growth promoting characteristics. Microorganisms with plant growth promoting characteristics are of immense importance in the field of agriculture and the present study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from agricultural soils of coastal regions of Junagadh and Porbandar districts of Saurashtra, Gujarat. A total of 15 isolated strains showed indole acetic acid production, solubilization of phosphate and potash, and nitrogen fixing capacity ranging from 18.77–33.48 μg ml−1, 50.10–106.10%, 180.42–239.92% and 0.170–0.480 g kg−1 of Jensen’s agar medium, respectively, while two isolates were also found positive for siderophore production. Besides, nine out of fifteen isolates also showed positive ACC deaminase activity ranging from 0.92-5.78 µM α-ketobutyrate mg−1 h−1. The isolates were further characterized by physiological, microscopic, and biochemical tests. The halophilic and halotolerant bacterial isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as belonging to Halomonas pacifica, H. stenophila, and Bacillus haynesii, B. licheniformis and Oceanobacillus aidingensis respectively. The 16S rRNA partial gene sequence of two isolates belonging to H. pacifica and H. stenophila were submitted to NCBI with accession number MK955347 and MK961217 respectively. The findings of the present investigation showed that isolated bacterial halophiles possess promising plant growth promoting characteristics. Their potential as bioinoculants to alleviate salinity stress in crops and for bioremediation deserves further investigation.
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spelling doaj.art-fa3f37b47075471ba7b94eb3bb6774e02022-12-21T21:10:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-03-0112111610.1038/s41598-022-08151-xPlant growth promoting characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from coastal regions of Saurashtra GujaratLikhindra Reang0Shraddha Bhatt1Rukam Singh Tomar2Kavita Joshi3Shital Padhiyar4U. M. Vyas5Jasmin Kumar Kheni6Department of Biotechnology, Junagadh Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Biotechnology, Junagadh Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Biotechnology, Junagadh Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Biotechnology, Junagadh Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Biotechnology, Junagadh Agricultural UniversityMain Oilseed Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Biotechnology, Junagadh Agricultural UniversityAbstract Halophiles are a class of microorganisms that thrive in environments with very high salt concentrations. The coastal regions of Saurashtra Gujarat host a diverse group of microorganisms including halophilic and halotolerant bacteria that may have plant growth promoting characteristics. Microorganisms with plant growth promoting characteristics are of immense importance in the field of agriculture and the present study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from agricultural soils of coastal regions of Junagadh and Porbandar districts of Saurashtra, Gujarat. A total of 15 isolated strains showed indole acetic acid production, solubilization of phosphate and potash, and nitrogen fixing capacity ranging from 18.77–33.48 μg ml−1, 50.10–106.10%, 180.42–239.92% and 0.170–0.480 g kg−1 of Jensen’s agar medium, respectively, while two isolates were also found positive for siderophore production. Besides, nine out of fifteen isolates also showed positive ACC deaminase activity ranging from 0.92-5.78 µM α-ketobutyrate mg−1 h−1. The isolates were further characterized by physiological, microscopic, and biochemical tests. The halophilic and halotolerant bacterial isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as belonging to Halomonas pacifica, H. stenophila, and Bacillus haynesii, B. licheniformis and Oceanobacillus aidingensis respectively. The 16S rRNA partial gene sequence of two isolates belonging to H. pacifica and H. stenophila were submitted to NCBI with accession number MK955347 and MK961217 respectively. The findings of the present investigation showed that isolated bacterial halophiles possess promising plant growth promoting characteristics. Their potential as bioinoculants to alleviate salinity stress in crops and for bioremediation deserves further investigation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08151-x
spellingShingle Likhindra Reang
Shraddha Bhatt
Rukam Singh Tomar
Kavita Joshi
Shital Padhiyar
U. M. Vyas
Jasmin Kumar Kheni
Plant growth promoting characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from coastal regions of Saurashtra Gujarat
Scientific Reports
title Plant growth promoting characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from coastal regions of Saurashtra Gujarat
title_full Plant growth promoting characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from coastal regions of Saurashtra Gujarat
title_fullStr Plant growth promoting characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from coastal regions of Saurashtra Gujarat
title_full_unstemmed Plant growth promoting characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from coastal regions of Saurashtra Gujarat
title_short Plant growth promoting characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from coastal regions of Saurashtra Gujarat
title_sort plant growth promoting characteristics of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from coastal regions of saurashtra gujarat
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08151-x
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