STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY OF BACTERIAL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATED WITH APPLE RHIZOSPHERE OF SPITI VALLEY
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Date
2023-10-20
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT The present investigation, titled "Structural and Functional Diversity of Bacterial Community Associated with Apple Rhizosphere in Spiti Valley," promises to pave the way for exploring the microbial community structure in various farmlands situated in the high-altitude cold desert of Spiti Valley. The study involved collecting soil samples from the apple rhizosphere at six different sites: Tabo, Lari, Hurling, Kurith, Needang, and Poh. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on soil texture and chemical properties, including pH, Electrical conductivity, and Organic carbon content. Moreover, macronutrients (NPK) and micronutrients (DTPA-extractable Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn) were also assessed. The research yielded intriguing findings as the isolates demonstrated positive traits like phosphorus solubilization with a range of 101 to 280.53%, siderophore production with an efficiency of 67.32 to 267.3%, and indole-3-acetic acid regulation ranging from 13.7 to 73.03μg/ml, indicating potential plant growth-enhancing properties. Additionally, these isolates exhibited antagonistic behaviour against pathogenic organisms like Fusarium oxysporum, Dematophora nectarix and Rhizoctonia solani, suggesting their role in plant health and disease suppression. By employing metagenomic analysis, the study offered valuable insights into the presence of non-culturable bacteria, providing a deeper understanding of the microbial diversity in the region. The analysis identified an impressive range of taxa, including 43 phyla, 128 classes, 317 orders, 492 families, 833 genera, and 1532 species. This research represents a significant advancement in the knowledge of both culturable and non-culturable bacteria thriving in the extreme conditions of high-altitude cold deserts in the trans-Himalayan region.