Genetics of phosphate solubilization and its potential applications for improving plant growth-promoting bacteria

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 287; no. 1-2; pp. 15 - 21
• Main Authors: Rodríguez, H, Fraga, R, Gonzalez, T, Bashan, Y
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Kluwer Academic Publishers 01-09-2006; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: acid phosphatase; Acid soils; Agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genetically modified organisms; Genetics; literature reviews; Microorganisms; Mineralization; Minerals; organic acids and salts; Organic soils; Phosphatases; Phosphates; phytases; Plant growth; plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria; Plants; Rhizosphere; Soil biochemistry; Solubilization; plant growth promoting bacteria; genetically modified microorganisms; phytases; Soil plant relation; organic acids; phosphatases; phosphorus solubilization
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-006-9056-9

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are soil and rhizosphere bacteria that can benefit plant growth by different mechanisms. The ability of some microorganisms to convert insoluble phosphorus (P) to an accessible form, like orthophosphate, is an important trait in a PGPB for increasing plant yields. In this mini-review, the isolation and characterization of genes involved in mineralization of organic P sources (by the action of enzymes acid phosphatases and phytases), as well as mineral phosphate solubilization, is reviewed. Preliminary results achieved in the engineering of bacterial strains for improving capacity for phosphate solubilization are presented, and application of this knowledge to improving agricultural inoculants is discussed.