Flooded Paddy Ecosystem Harbors Methanol Oxidizing-Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Belonging to Order Enterobacterales

Abstract

Methanol oxidizing organisms not only reduce atmospheric methanol concentration but also play a major role in enhancing methane oxidation through cross-feeding in synergism with methanotrophs. Possession of plant growth promoting (PGP) attributes in methanol oxidizing bacteria will prove to be a worthy candidate for developing novel biofertilizers having dual ability of plant growth promotion and reducing methane emission to a certain extent. We are reporting 11 plant growth promoting methanol oxidizing bacteria belonging to the genera Rahnella, Serratia, Enterobacter and Pantoea of order Enterobacterales isolated from phyllosphere, rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere of flooded paddies. Among 11 isolates, Rahnella aquatilisANRf177 showed significantly highest growth in AMS broth having 0.5% methanol as the sole C source. R. aquatilis MaAL105 produced significantly higher IAA and showed maximum solubilization of P and K. Pantoea sp. KAAr216 showed significantly maximum N2 fixation ability and solubilization of Zn salts. These efficient methanol oxidizing bacteria having PGP attributes can be evaluated under field conditions.