Original Articles
N. Uma Maheswari and S. Sudha
Abstract
Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) were isolated and enumerated from the gut of earthworm varieties, epigeic ( Eisenia foetida ) , Endogeic (Allolobophora chlorotica), anecic (Apporectodea longa). Total bacterial count and PSB were isolated and identified.Among 4 PSB isolates from three varieties of earthworm guts, highest number of PSB were isolated and enumerated from (Eisenia foetida). The dominant genera identified by cultural and morphological and physiological characteristics were Bacillus subtilis (23.5+2 mm) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.2+01 mm) Enterobacter aerogens (18.3+04 mm) and P. fluorescens (11.2+0.01). Besides from this other genera like Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli were also identified, but in low frequency . Revealed that their higher number of PSB associate with earthworm gut . The present work follows the changes in the phosphate solubilizing in ingested material as it passes through the worm and attempts to evaluate benefits the worm may derive there form.