Paper Contents
Abstract
Iron is a vital micronutrient for both plants and microorganisms, but its availability in soils is often limited due to its insolubility in oxidized forms, especially in alkaline and aerobic conditions. To address this limitation, microorganisms such as Pseudomonas species produce siderophores, which are iron-chelating compounds that help in iron acquisition. This study aimed to isolate and characterize siderophore-producing Pseudomonas species from the rhizosphere of soybean crops in Deulgaon Raja, Maharashtra, and evaluate their potential as biofertilizers. Soil samples were collected, and bacterial isolates were screened for siderophore production using the Chrome Azurol Sulphonate (CAS) assay. The results demonstrated significant siderophore production by all isolates, with the highest decolorization (79.20%) observed in isolate RSVC-44. Further tests revealed that the isolates produced pyoverdine, a water-soluble fluorescent siderophore, and identified both hydroxamate and catecholate-phenolate types using Csaky and Arnows tests. These findings confirm the ability of Pseudomonas isolates to efficiently sequester iron and promote plant growth. The high siderophore production in RSVC-44 suggests its potential as a biofertilizer to improve iron nutrition in soybean crops, particularly under iron-deficient conditions. This research underscores the significance of siderophore-producing bacteria in sustainable agriculture and provides a foundation for future studies on their application in enhancing crop productivity and reducing chemical fertilizer dependence.Keywords: Siderophores, Rhizosphere, Pseudomonas, soybean (Glycine max) .
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Dr.Pandurang Balasaheb Pawar. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
