Isolation and Biochemical Characterization of Endophytic Bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophocus from Native Sugarcane Cultivar of Middle Gangetic Plains of India Kumar Ajeet*, Meena Sunita Kumari, Sinha S.K., Singh A.K., Minnatullah1, Singh Sanjay Kumar2 Department of Soil Science, Sugarcane Research Institute, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur-848 125, India 1Department of Plant Pathology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur-848 125, India 2Department of Soil Science, Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur-848125, India *E-mail: ajeet.sri@rpcau.ac.in
Online Published on 20 February, 2024. Abstract The study focused on the isolation and characterization of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophocus, an endophytic bacterium obtained from various parts of a native sugarcane cultivar in India's middle Gangetic plains. Using conventional culturing methods, isolated and screened 115 isolates, ultimately selecting 15 highly efficient isolates based on their production of growth-promoting hormones. Among these, GdS08S, isolated from sugarcane cultivar CoP-9301, exhibited the highest nitrogen-fixing ability, with 153μg of N/mg of carbon used. Isolate GdS15S, from sugarcane cultivar Co-0238, produced the highest concentration of gibberellic acid (8.19μg/25ml). Additionally, GdS07R displayed notable phosphorus and zinc solubilization zones, measuring 4.22 cm and 4.52 cm, respectively. G. diazotrophocus, residing within sugarcane tissues, plays a pivotal role in promoting rooting, cell elongation, and overall sugarcane growth through the biosynthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA). Furthermore, it actively fixes atmospheric nitrogen, offering a significant nitrogen supply to the growing crops. This research underscores the significance of G. diazotrophocus as a potential biofertilizer for native sugarcane cultivars in the middle Gangetic plains of India, contributing to sustainable agriculture practices. Top Keywords Gluconacetobacter, Sugarcane, Nitrogen fixation, Phytohormones, Organic acids. Top |