The Diversity of Phosphate-Solubilising
Microorganims
M. Wainwright
Department of Molecular
Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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In this lecture the diversity
of phosphate solubilising microorganisms will be reviewed. Although emphasis
will be place on soil organisms, notably species of Streptomyces, reference will
also be made to the role of phosphate solubilisers in medicine, e.g. the role
of phosphate solubilation in tooth decay. Studies on the phosphate solubilising
ability of bacteria and fungi isolated from an unusual extreme environment will
also be touched upon. Finally, the ability of insoluble phosphates to stimulate
microbial growth under copiotrophic and oligotrophic growth conditions will be
discussed. These results will be compared to similar studies on the growth of
microorganisms in the presence of bismuth and silicon compounds, which like
insoluble phosphates are solubilised by microbial activity. The aim of the
lecture is extend our awareness of the ability of microorganisms to solubilise
insoluble phosphates from the soil to other environments and to place this
ability in context with the general ability of bacteria and fungi to solubilise
insoluble compounds.