Bio-fertilizers are currently being considered as effective and environmentally-safe alternatives to synthetic fertilizers. In recent years, the use of many Rhizobia in the growth of many plants has found commercial utilization in developing countries especially as growth promoters. This study was conducted to isolate Rhizobacteria from the rhizosphere, rhizoplane and endorhizosphere of cauliflower (Brasicca oleracea) collected from ChattaBakhtawar, Islamabad, Pakistan. Extraction of rhizobacteria was done and the composition was maintained accordingly as for biofertilizers. Luria-Bertini (LB) media was used to isolate rhizobacterial strains and the identification of rhizobacteria was done by studying many morphological characteristics of colonies growing on the media. These characteristics include Form, Elevation, Margin, Opacity and Colour; these were recorded periodically. For the confirmation of rhizobacteria; biochemical tests were performed. Gram staining was done for 14 strains CF-ES-4, CF-ES-5A, CF-ES-5B, CF-ES-5C, CF-ES-6A, CF-ES-6B, CF-RP-4C, CF-RP-4B, CF-RP-6, CF-RP-5A, CF-RP-4, CF-RS -4, CF-RS-5, and CF-RS-6: Among these, 11 strains were Gram negative while the 3 strains CF-RP-5A, CF-ES-5A and CF-RP-4 were Gram positive. The strains which were phosphate negative were: CF-RP-4C, CF-RS-8, CF-RP-4A, CF-ES-4, CF-RS-7, CF-ES-5C, CF-RP-6 while the CF-RP-5A CF-RP-5B, CF-ES-5B, CF-ES-5A, CF-RP-4B, CF-ES-6B, CF-RS-4 and CF-RS-6 strains were phosphate positive; these confirmed qualities of rhizobacteria. Taken together, the present investigation adds more information to current understanding of Nitrogen-fixing by rhizobacteria; and will be useful for the commercialization of these strains to improve the yield of economic plants like cauliflower. Thus, identification of strains to species level and field studies are recommended before adoption by farmers in agricultural field practices.
Keywords: Cauliflower; Gram staining; Luria-Bertini media; Phosphate; Rhizobacteria.