Full Length Research Paper
Abstract
A phosphate mine from Togo, an original biotope rich in insoluble rock phosphate (RP), was explored for the presence of RP solubilizing actinobacteria. One hundred and fifty actinobacteria isolates originating from this mine was tested for their ability to grow on a synthetic minimum medium (SMM) containing insoluble RP as unique phosphate source. Only 29 isolates (19%) were able to weather RP in SMM medium. Five isolates showed the most active growth and solubilization capability. These isolates were shown to be able to solubilize RP in liquid cultures. The study of mechanisms involved in these weathering processes indicated that the isolates produce siderophores but not organic acids. Four of these strains were shown to belong to the genus Micromonospora and one, to the genus Streptomyces.
Key words: Actinobacteria, isolation, characterization, Togolese phosphate mine, rock phosphate solubilization.
Abbreviation
RP, Rock phosphate; SMM, synthetic minimum medium.
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