Isolation and Characterization of Halotolerant Azotobacter Species from Different Coastal Soils of South Gujarat Region

Author(s): Bari Bhavna, Singh Shruti* and Singh Sangeeta

Abstract: Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that adversely affect modern agriculture and constitutes a major problem everywhere in the world. To cope with increasing demand for agriculture land, the vast wasteland areas of India compromising saline soils need to be put in use. The aim of the present study was to isolate and characterize halotolerant Azotobacter species from different coastal region of south Gujarat. In the present study, soil samples were collected from different coastal region of South Gujarat namely Tithal, Danti, Daman and Dumas and were investigated for halotolerant Azotobacter species by isolating on Ashby’s mannitol agar plate containing 1%, 2% and 3% NaCl concentrations. All the isolates were identified as halotolerant Azotobacter species by performing morphological analysis and various enzymatic analysis includes catalase test, nitrate reduction test, phosphate solubilizing test, Cellulase test and starch hydrolysis test. The growth of halotolerant Azotobacter species were also studied at different pH and NaCl concentration. Six halotolerant Azotobacter isolates were isolated and were found to have cellulase, catalase, and phosphate solubilizing and nitrate reductase enzymatic activities where one of the Halotolerant Azotobacter species was able to tolerate 10 % NaCl concentration. The seed germination assay reveals that the inoculation of the halotolerant Azotobacter species potentially increase the root and shoot length of the seedling and can serve as a potential source of Biofertilizers that offers an environmentally sustainable approach to boost crop yield under saline condition.

PAGES: 774-779  |  131 VIEWS  209 DOWNLOADS