Pseudomonas species ISOLATED FROM RHIZOSPHERE SOILS: SCREENING FOR SIDEROPHORE PRODUCTION, PHOSPHATE SOLUBILIZATION AND THEIR ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY

Five different plant growth promoting fluorescent bacterial species were isolated from paddy rhizosphere, from Vadipatti village near Madurai. The bacterial isolates were confirmed as fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. based on morphological and biochemical characterization. The isolates were screened for phosphate solubilization which formed clear zone around the colony in Pikovoskaya’s medium. The isolates were also screened for siderophore production by CAS assay method, Arnow’s assay and Atkin’s assay which showed the hydroxamate and catecholate type of siderophore production by Pseudomonas sp. Phytopathogenic activity of the isolate was identified by their antagonistic activity against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus.