Endophytic bacteria isolated from Phaseolus vulgaris produce phytases with potential for biotechnology application

Currently, endophytic microorganisms have become a good source of different enzymes and others metabolites of industrial interest. Among a huge spectral of molecules, enzymes as phytases have been emphasized by the ability to hydrolyze the phytic acid that represents the largest storage form of inorganic phosphorus in cereals, which are the staple diet of monogastric animals such as swine and poultry. Moreover, phytic acid acts as an antinutrient by chelating divalent metal ions, and it is interesting provide phytase as an animal feed supplement for those monogastric animals. In the current study, 158 endophytic bacteria isolated from the leaves of three cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris were assessed for the ability to produce phytase. Among them, four isolates belonging to the Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Microbacterium and Rhodococcus genera were highlighted, due their phytase production. The phytase produced by Microbacterium foliorum BAC1157 exhibited activity at 70 °C and stability in the presence of divalent cations, indicating that this phytase has a promising use in the animal feed industry. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report on phytase production by bacteria of the Microbacterium genera.