Isolation and Characterisation of Microorganisms from Rhizospheric Soil of Seabuckthorn from Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand

Abstract

A plant with significant nutritional and therapeutic value, Seabuckthorn (common name: Badrifal and Family: Elaeagnaceae) is recognised for its abundance of bioactive substances, including vitamins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and vital fatty acids, and possesses various health benefits and has the potential to cure diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. Seabuckthorn is a drought-resistant shrub that flourishes in harsh environments, as climate change is a major driver of biodiversity loss. In India, it is primarily found in high altitudes of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. In the present study, 9 rhizospheric microorganisms have been isolated from a soil sample of Seabuckthorn from Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Out of 9 isolates, 4 were fungal isolates, 4 were bacterial isolates, and the remaining 1 was an actinobacteria. Furthermore, isolated microbes were investigated for biochemical tests including, catalase, oxidase, siderophore production and phosphate solubilisation assay. The analysis shows that all isolates (bacteria, fungi and actinobacteria) were positive for catalase and oxidase test. The two fungal isolates (GEU_SBT03 and GEU_SBT04) and two bacterial isolates (GEU_SBT05 and GEU_SBT06) were found positive for siderophore production. In addition, three fungal isolates (GEU_SBT01, GEU_SBT02, and GEU_SBT04) and two bacterial isolates (GEU_SBT05 and GEU_SBT06) showed positive response for phosphate solubilisation. These results conclude that isolated microbes (both bacteria and fungi) from the rhizosphere of Seabuckthorn possess plant growth-promoting activity, which can be further applied as biofertilizers for promoting high yield of Seabuckthorn plant and other biotechnological applications.