EFFECT OF IMMOBILIZED Serratia sp. BY SPRAY-DRYING TECHNOLOGY ON PLANT GROWTH AND PHOSPHATE UPTAKE

Abstract

A study was done to investigate the efficiency of rhizobacteria on solubilization of insoluble phosphate in liquid culture medium and its assimilation by wheat plants in quartz sand potted experiments. Serratia sp. was selected to investigate the variation on pH values, enzymatic activity and phosphate solubilization in Pikovskaya liquid medium. A relation between pH diminution, phosphatase production and P solubilization was found. After 60 days of plant assay, root, shoot and plant height did not respond to inoculation of Serratia sp. However, immobilized by Serratia sp. had beneficial effects on P uptake. The results demonstrated that inoculation of the immobilized rhizobacteria is a promising option for microbial inoculant to increase P level in tissues of wheat plants and could be an innovative technique for application in agricultural industry.