Molecular diversity of phosphate solubilizing bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of chickpea, mustard and wheat

Molecular diversity of native phosphate solubilizing bacteria from rhizosphere of important crops like chickpea (Cicer arietinum), mustard (Brassica campestris) and wheat (Triticium aestivum) grown in Haryana was studied A total of 193 isolates were selected from the rhizosphere of chickpea (76), mustard (68) and wheat (49) based on zone of P-solubilization. These were screened for P-solubilization on solid as well as liquid Pikovskaya's medium. All the isolates showed large variations in P-solubilization.On the basis of the 20 biochemical tests, a dendrogram was constructed using UPGMA with which all the PSB isolates were clustered in nine major groups. The isolates from chickpea, mustard and wheat rhizosphere were randomly distributed. Twenty three PSB isolates representing nine biochemical groups were selected and genetic diversity was determined by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) using Hinf1 and Msp1. The banding pattern was analyzed using NT-SYS programme and a dendrogram was constructed. The isolates were divided into 10 ARDRA groups at 85% similarity level. Majority of the isolates fell in one group while the remaining isolates constituted the separate groups. PSB from different crops rhizosphere were randomly distributed. Biochemical groups did not correlate to the ARDRA groups.