Identification of soil bacteria isolated from nasinuan community forest with potential application in agriculture

Abstract

This work aims to isolate and identify bacteria from unexplored resources in the Nasinuan Community Forest in Kantarawichai district, Maha Sarakham province, Thailand, with potential applications in agriculture. These bacteria are able to produce chitinase and phytase, besides fixing nitrogen and solubilizing phosphate. Selective media were used for screening bacteria and point inoculation was used in determining the capacity of interest in bacteria. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to identify bacterial strains. The results showed that PSB1.2.1, PSB2.1.1 and PSB3.4.3 isolates were phosphate solubilizing strains that are identified as Enterobacter hormaechei, Enterobacter sp. and Enterobacter ludwigii, respectively. PT1.1.3, as phytase-producing bacteria, showed the closest relationship to Burkholderia cenocepacia, while PT1.2.1, PT1.3.4, PT2.1.3 and PT3.3.1 are related to Burkholderia sp., Acinetobacter pittii, Bacillus cereus and Burkholderia gladioli, respectively. N1.11, N1.12, N3.3 and N3.4 are nitrogenfixing bacteria identified as Bacillus thuringiensis, Pantoea dispersa, Pantoea dispersa and Achromobacter xylosoxidans. The isolates C2.21 and C2.22 are chitinase-producing bacteria identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, while C2.23 was identified as Achromobacter spp. This is the first report of bacterial identification with potential agricultural application from the Nasinuan Community Forest. These bacteria may be used as bioinoculants to promote growth of local plants, enhance yields and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.