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.