Comparison of in vitro solubilization activity of diverse phosphate-solubilizing bacteria native to acid soil and their ability to promote Phaseolus vulgaris growth

To identify plant growth promotion ability of phosphorus-solubilizing native bacteria, we have examined a collection of isolates representing the diversity of culturable phosphate-solubilizing bacteria from acid soils of the northeast of Argentina. Assays in growth medium supplemented with tricalcium phosphate revealed different phosphorus solubilization activity and temporal patterns of solubilization. Acidification of the broth medium coincided with phosphorus solubilization. The isolates were grouped according to their Rep fingerprinting profiles and phylogenetically classified by 16S rDNA and biochemical analyses. These isolates were assigned to the genera Enterobacter, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Burkholderia, and Exiguobacterium. Four isolates showing high phosphorus solubilizing activity in in vitro assays were inoculated on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris); some of them promoted plant growth and increased photosynthesis and the P and N content of leaves. The results indicated that the ability to in vitro solubilize P is not necessarily associated to the promotion of plant growth.