Vitamin production in relation to phosphate solubilization by soil bacteria

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry Vol. 13; no. 6; pp. 527 - 531
• Main Authors: Baya, Ana M., Boethling, Robert S., Ramos-Cormenzana, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1981
• ISSN: 0038-0717; 1879-3428
• DOI: 10.1016/0038-0717(81)90044-4

Studies were conducted to determine the relationship of vitamin production and ability to dissolve bicalcium phosphate in bacteria isolated from rhizosphere, rhizoplane and control soil. Production of vitamin B 12, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenate and biotin was determined using a bioassay procedure that may be useful for large-scale screening of bacteria for vitamin production. Among isolates producing one or more vitamins, 76.4, 37.5 and 57.5% of control, rhizosphere and rhizoplane isolates, respectively, solubilized phosphate. However, phosphate-solubilizing isolates from rhizosphere and rhizoplane were more active vitamin producers than solubilizing isolates from control soil, and non-solubilizing isolates from any of the three regions. Production of vitamin B 12, riboflavin and niacin by rhizosphere isolates and of riboflavin by rhizoplane isolates was also correlated with ability to solubilize phosphate, but similar relationships were not observed for control isolates.