Pseudomonas spp. isolates with high phosphate-mobilizing potential and root colonization properties from agricultural bulk soils under no-till management

Seven phosphate-mobilizing pseudomonads were isolated, identified, and characterized in terms of their biofertilizer potential and root-colonizing properties. Pseudomonas protegens (ex-fluorescens) CHA0 was used for comparative purposes. Four isolates (LF-MB1, LF-P1, LF-P2, and LF-P3) clustered with members of the Pseudomonas fluorescens complex, whereas the other three (LF-MB2, LF-V1, and LF-V2) clustered with members of the Pseudomonas putida/Pseudomonas aeruginosa complex. Assays in buffered liquid growth medium supplemented with tricalcium phosphate enabled the separation of the isolates into two groups: group A (LF-P1, LF-P2, LF-P3, and LF-V1) solubilized P from 151 up to 182 mu g mL(-1), and group B (LF-MB1, LF-MB2, and LF-V2) solubilized less than 150 mu g P mL(-1). All isolates displayed acid and alkaline phosphatase activities. With the exception of LF-MB2, all isolates were able to degrade phospholipids from lecithin. Additionally, all isolates exhibited extracellular protease activity, and four isolates produced hydrogen cyanide, two traits that are related to biocontrol of phytopathogens. To study root colonization in non-sterile soil, isolates were doubly tagged with gfp and a tetracycline resistance cassette. After 15 days of competition with the indigenous bacterial flora, all tagged isolates colonized soybean roots at counts ranging from 7.6 x 10(5) to 1.7 x 10(7) CFU g(-1). The results indicate that there are already efficient phosphate-mobilizing pseudomonads adapted to agricultural bulk soils under no-till management in Argentina and thus having excellent potential for use as biofertilizers.