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Transconjugation studies in Azospirillum sp. negative to mineral phosphate solubilization

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Abstract

It has been previously shown that certain gram-negative bacteria do not have the ability to solubilize insoluble phosphates due to the lack of pyrroloquinoline-quinone synthesis genes (pqq). PQQ is required as cofactor for the assembly of the glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) holoenzyme, which acts in the oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid. In this context the transconjugation and expression of pqq genes in Azospirillum sp. was studied using the construct pMCG 898. pMCG 898 containing pqq gene/s was mobilized into an Azospirillum strain negative to mineral phosphate solubilization by biparental mating. The presence of the construct was also confirmed by minipreps of the transconjugants. The transconjugants were able to solubilize dicalcium phosphate while the wild type was not able to do so. The nitrogen-fixing ability of the transconjugants was also examined and they retained the ability to fix nitrogen. Further detailed studies are required to confirm the utility of such strains in releasing inorganic P from fixed phosphates in soil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Science, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-De-Bellevue, Montrael, QC, Canada, H9X 3V9

    Appanna Vikram

  2. Department of Agricultural Microbiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India

    Ajjanna R. Alagawadi & K. S. Mahesh Kumar

  3. Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India

    P. U. Krishnaraj

  4. Potato Development Centre, 39 Barker Lane, Wicklow, NB, Canada, E7L 3S4

    Appanna Vikram

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  1. Appanna Vikram
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  2. Ajjanna R. Alagawadi
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  3. P. U. Krishnaraj
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  4. K. S. Mahesh Kumar
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Correspondence to Appanna Vikram.

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Vikram, A., Alagawadi, A.R., Krishnaraj, P.U. et al. Transconjugation studies in Azospirillum sp. negative to mineral phosphate solubilization. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 23, 1333–1337 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-007-9365-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-007-9365-z

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