Galactose loss and fruit ripening: high-molecular-weight arabinogalactans in the pectic polysaccharides of fruit cell walls

Cell wall material (CWM) was prepared from nine fruit species at two ripening stages (unripe and ripe) and extracted sequentially with 0.05 M trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (CDTA), 0.05 M Na₂CO₃ and 4 M KOH. Each solubilised fraction and the CWM-residue remaining after 4 M KOH extraction was analysed for non-cellulosic sugar composition. A common pattern of distribution for polyuronide and pectin-associated neutral sugar was observed for all unripe fruit. Most polyuronide was extracted in the CDTA/Na₂CO₃ fractions while 70–93% of the neutral sugar was located on pectic polysaccharides in the 4 M KOH-soluble and CWM-residue fractions. During ripening, most of the galactose was lost from pectic polysaccharides in the CWM-residue. Partial solubilisation of these polysaccharides was achieved by treating the CWM-residue with endopolygalacturonase. The solubilised polysaccharides were separated into two fractions by ion-exchange chromatography. One of these contained polysaccharides with average molecular weights of 400 kDa or larger and consisted of between 70 and 90% arabinogalactan. The galactosyl residues were 80–90% β-1→4 linked, indicating largely unbranched side-chains. The arabinosyl residues were distributed among terminal, 3-, 5-, 2,5-, and 2,3,5-linked residues, indicating a highly ramified structure. The results are discussed with regard to the relationship between pectin solubilisation and galactose loss and their respective contribution to fruit softening. Received: 28 January 1997 / Accepted: 11 March 1997     

Polysaccharide changes in cell walls of ripening apples

Changes in the polysaccharide composition of apple fruits ripening on and off the tree were compared. Polysaccharide fractions defined by their method of extraction were analysed colorimetrically, and the monosaccharide composition of total acetone insoluble material was analysed. Neutral carbohydrate associated with pectic extractives decreased; correspondingly galactose residues were lost in detached fruit, while galactose and arabinose residues were lost in fruit on the tree. Decreases in hemicellulose were correlated with losses of wall glucan; xylose contents did not change. Soluble polyuronide increased especially in detached fruit. DEAE-cellulose chromatography showed that this polyuronide was free from neutral sugar residues. Amounts of soluble neutral polysaccharides and glycoproteins did not change during fruit ripening.     

Autolysis-Iike Release of Pectic Polysaccharides from Regions of Cell Walls Other Than the Middle Lamella

Cell walls of a storage organ (potato tubers) showed autolysis-likeactivity. After 20 h of incubation in water at 35°C, thepurified cell walls released approximately 10% of the cell walldry weight as pectic polysaccharides containing about 40% ofthe total galacturonic acid present in the cell walls. Virtuallyno neutral polysaccharides were found in the soluble fraction.The pectic polysaccharides were heterogeneous in galacturonicacid content and had a very large molecular size. The releaseof pectic polymers was caused neither by enzymatic reactionsnor by ß-elimination, but by a chelation of Ca²⁺ and/orother metal ions during the cell wall isolation. Ultrastructuralobservations clearly showed that these pectic polysaccharideswere released not from the middle lamella, but from the primarycell wall adjacent to the plasma membrane. These results indicatethat nearly half of cell wall pectic polysaccharides are heldin the primary wall only by Ca²⁺- and/or other metal-bridgesand that these pectic polymers are not associated with the middlelamella. (Received March 20, 1989; Accepted October 3, 1989)     

Effect of GA3 on the Molecular Mass of Polyuronides in the Cell Walls of Alaska Pea Roots

The role of cell wall matrix polysaccharides in gibberellin-regulatedroot growth is unknown. We examined pectic polysaccharides frompea roots treated with or without gibberellin A₃ (GA₃) in thepresence of ancymidol, an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis.Pectic polymers solubilized by CDTA (trans-l,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraaceticacid) at 23°C and subjected to gel permeation analysis exhibitedhigh polydispersity with a molecular mass in excess of 500 kDa.Subsequent extraction of cell walls with CDTA at 100°C solubilizedpolymers with an average mol mass of 10 to 40 kDa. Subjectingthe high molecular mass pectic polymers extracted at 23°Cto 70–100°C for 2h generated 10 to 40 kDa fragments,similar in size distribution to those solubilized directly fromcell walls by CDTA solutions at 100°C. Pectic polymers from(GA₃+Anc)-treated roots were of higher average mol mass thanthose from Anc-treated roots in both the elongation zone andin the basal maturation zone. Since (GA₃+Anc)-treated rootselongate more quickly than Anc-treated roots [Tanimoto (1994)Plant Cell Physiol. 35:1019], the slender, GA₃-treated rootsmay produce and deposit highly integrated pectins more rapidlythan the thicker, Anc-treated roots in the elongating or elongatedcell walls. ²Present address: Horticultural Sciences Department, POB 110690IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690 U.S.A.     

Temperature-dependent phosphate solubilization by cold- and pH-tolerant species of Aspergillus isolated from Himalayan soil

Ten species of Aspergillus isolated from soil samples collected from different locations in the Indian Himalayan region have been studied for their growth requirements and tricalcium phosphate solubilization at different temperatures. The Aspergillus species could grow at low temperature and tolerated a wide range of pH. Phosphate solubilization by various Aspergillus species ranged between 374 μg/ml (A. candidus) to 1394 μg/ml (A. niger) at 28°C, 33 μg/ml (A. fumigatus) to 2354 μg/ml (A. niger) at 21°C, 93 μg/ml (A. fumigatus) to 1452 μg/ml (A. niger) at 14°C, and 21 μg/ml (A. wentii) to 83 μg/ml (A. niger) at 9°C. At 21 and 28°C, phosphate solubilization showed a decrease within 4 weeks of incubation, whereas at 9°C and 14°C, it continued further up to 6 weeks of incubation. In general, phosphate solubilization by different Aspergillus species was recorded at a maximum of 28°C or 21°C; biomass production was favored at 21°C or 14°C. Conversely, A. nidulans and A. sydowii exhibited maximum phosphate solubilization at 14°C and produced maximum biomass at 21°C. Data suggest that suboptimal conditions (higher or lower temperature) for fungal growth and biomass production were optimal for the production of metabolites involved in phosphate solubilization. Significant negative correlations were obtained between pH and phosphate solubilization for eight species at 28°C, for seven at 21°C, and for nine at 14°C. Extracellular phosphatase activity was exhibited only in case of A. niger, whreas intracellular phosphatase activity was detected in all species, the maximum being in A. niger. Statistically significant positive or negative correlations were obtained between phosphate solubilization and other parameters in most cases at different temperatures.     

Metabolic relationships of the isolated fractions of the pectic substances of actively growing sycamore cells

1. d-Glucose and l-arabinose serve as precursors of the pectic polysaccharides of sycamore suspension-callus tissue. 2. The rates and characteristics of the incorporation of radioactive sucrose, glucose and mesoinositol by sycamore callus tissue have been compared and shown to be different. 3. The time-course of the incorporation of radioactive glucose into the major fractions within the cells has been determined. Approx. 7-10% of the radioactivity incorporated is present in the whole pectin of the cells. 4. A study of the continuous incorporation of radioactive glucose showed that the neutral arabinan-galactan fraction of the pectin quickly became saturated with the radioactive label. During the incorporation of radioactivity from a pulse of radioactive glucose the neutral fraction became progressively less labelled, with a corresponding increase in the radioactivity of the weakly acidic pectinic acid, which is known to contain neutral sugars. 5. When the cells were exposed to a pulse of radioactive l-arabinose, the label accumulated first in the neutral fraction and then after 4hr. it passed to the weakly acidic pectinic acid with a corresponding decrease in the radioactivity of the neutral fraction. 6. The product that was initially labelled during the first hour of exposure of the cells in the stationary phase to radioactive glucose was identified as an incompletely methylated galacturonan in which the radioactivity was present in the anhydrogalacturonide residues. This polysaccharide probably acts as the precursor of the polyuronide portions of both the strongly acidic and weakly acidic pectinic acids. 7. The observations are discussed in relation to the structure of the pectic substances and their function in cell growth and development. A tentative model for their metabolic relationship is put forward.     

Studies in the Physiology of Parasitism: XXI. The Production and Properties of Pectic Enzymes secreted by Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon

Fusarium moniliforme secreted macerating enzymes in liquid mediaonly when these contained certain natural extracts, pectic substances,or galacturonic acid. Apple extract was unsuitable for enzymesecretion and also inhibited enzyme secretion in synthetic mediaotherwise suitable. Protopectinase activity of solutions was highest in the pH range8·0–9·0, was rapidly lost at temperaturesabove 50–60° C., and was reduced by concentrationsof phosphate higher than 0·02 M. The enzyme was partiallypurified by precipitation in 60 per cent. acetone at pH 6·0. Protopectinase solutions also contained an enzyme which reducedthe viscosity of solutions of various pectic substances. Theproperties of this enzyme were, in general, similar to thoseof protopectinase. When activity of enzyme solutions was measured by the liberationof reducing groups, pectate solutions were more rapidly degradedthan were solutions of a high methoxyl pectin, particularlyin the early stages of the reaction. Paper chromatography ofthe products formed showed that pectate and pectin were degradedin different ways. Although the pathogen readily secreted protopectinase in potatoextract, potato tubers were not readily parasitized. In contrast,Fusarium avenaceum which readily attacked tubers, secreted littleprotopectinase in potato extract.     

Changes in Cell Wall Composition and Water-soluble Polysaccharides During Kiwifruit Development

Changes in both cell wall and water-soluble polysaccharide compositionduring the growth of kiwifruits [Actinidia deliciosa (A. chev.) C. F. Liang and A. R. Ferguson var. deliciosa ‘Hayward’]were investigated. Cellulose was the major wall polysaccharide,with galactose and uronics the main non-cellulosic sugars. Muchsolubilization of cell wall pectic polysaccharides was detected.While wall-galactose solubilization started 3 months after anthesis,polyuronide degradation did not start until the fifth month,1 month prior to the harvest date. Parallel to these processes,a linear increase in water-soluble polysaccharides was detected.These mainly comprised galactose-rich polymers in the first3 months and little-branched polyuronides after the fifth month.Two different mechanisms for galactose and uronic acid solubilizationfrom kiwifruit cell walls during fruit development are proposed. Actinidia deliciosa ; cell wall; fruit growth; kiwifruit; water-soluble polysaccharides     

Phosphate solubilization potential and stress tolerance of rhizobacteria from rice soil in Northern Thailand

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to influence plant growth by various direct or indirect mechanisms. A total of 216 phosphate-solubilizing bacterial isolates were isolated from different rice rhizospheric soil in Northern Thailand. These isolate were screened in vitro for their plant growth-promoting activities such as solubilization of inorganic phosphate, ammonia (NH₃), catalase and cell wall-degrading enzyme activity. It was found that 100% solubilized inorganic phosphate, 77.77% produced NH₃ and most of the isolates were positive for catalase. In addition, some strains also produced cell wall-degrading enzymes such as protease (7%), chitinase (1%), cellulase (3%) and β-glucanase (3%), as evidenced by phenotypic biochemical test and quantitative assay using spectrophotometry. The isolates could exhibit more than two or three plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, which may promote plant growth directly or indirectly or synergistically. Part of this study focused on the effect of NaCl, temperature, and pH on a specific the bacterial isolate Acinetobacter CR 1.8. Strain CR 1.8 was able to grow on up to 25% NaCl, between 25 and 55°C, and at pH 5–9. Maximum solubilization of tricalcium phosphate and aluminium phosphate was obtained at neutral pH, and 37°C. Strain CR 1.8 had protease activity but no cellulase, β-glucanase and cellulase activities.     

Characterization of a cold-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacterium Pantoea dispersa 1A isolated from a sub-alpine soil in the North Western Indian Himalayas

Pantoea dispersa strain 1A is a Gram-negative rod-shaped, yellow-pigmented bacterium isolated on nutrient agar plates incubated at 4°C. The identity of the bacterium was confirmed by sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene. It was capable of growing at temperatures ranging from 4 to 42°C, but maximum growth was observed at 30°C. It is endowed with multiple plant growth promotion attributes such as phosphate solubilization, IAA production, siderophore production and HCN production, which are expressed differentially at sub-optimal temperatures (15 and 4°C). It was able to solubilize phosphate (17.6 μg of P₂O₅ ml⁻¹ day⁻¹), and produce IAA (3.7 μg ml⁻¹ day⁻¹), at 15°C. Qualitative detection of siderophore production and HCN were also observed at 15°C. At 4°C it was found to express all the plant growth promotion attributes. This bacterial isolate was able to positively influence and promote the growth and nutrient uptake parameters of wheat (cv. VL.802) under glasshouse conditions. Hence in the context, of cold wheat-growing environments, it is proposed that Pantoea dispersa 1A (MTCC 8706), could be deployed as an inoculant to attain the desired results of bacterization.     

Characterization of pectin methyltransferase from soybean hypocotyls

Pectin methyltransferase (PMT) catalyzing the transfer of the methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) to the C-6 carboxyl group of galactosyluronic acid residues in pectin was found in a membrane preparation of etiolated hypocotyls from 6-d-old soybean (Glycinemax Merr.). The enzyme was maximally active at pH 6.8 and 35–40 °C, and required 0.5% (w/v) Triton X-100. The incorporation of the methyl group was significantly enhanced by addition of a pectin with a low (22%) degree of methyl-esterification (DE) as exogenous acceptor substrate. The apparent Michaelis constants for SAM and the pectin (DE22) were 0.23 mM and 66 μg · ml⁻¹, respectively. Attachment of the methyl group to the carboxyl group of the pectin via ester linkage was confirmed by analyzing radiolabeled product from incubation of the enzyme with [¹⁴C]methyl SAM and the acceptor pectin. Size-exclusion chromatography showed that both enzymatic hydrolysis with a pectin methylesterase and a mild alkali treatment (saponification) led to the release of radioactive methanol from the product. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the product with an endopolygalacturonase degraded it into small pectic fragments with low relative molecular mass, which also supports the idea that the methyl group is incorporated into the pectin. The soybean hypocotyls were fractionated into their cell wall components by successive extraction with water, EDTA, and alkali treatment. Among the resulting polysaccharide fractions, high PMT activity was observed when a de-esterified polysaccharide derived from the EDTA-soluble fraction (the pectic fraction) was added as an alternative acceptor substrate, indicating that the enzyme may be responsible for producing methyl-esterified pectin in vivo. Received: 10 September 1999 / Accepted: 11 October 1999     

Cell Wall Dissolution in Ripening Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) : Solubilization of the Pectic Polymers

Pectic polysaccharides solubilized in vivo during ripening, were isolated using phenol, acetic acid, and water (PAW) from the outer pericarp of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa [A. Chev.] C.F. Liang and A.R. Ferguson var deliciosa `Hayward') before and after postharvest ethylene treatment. Insoluble polysaccharides of the cell wall materials (CWMs) were solubilized in vitro by chemical extraction with 0.05 molar cyclohexane-trans-1,2-diamine tetraacetate (CDTA), 0.05 molar Na₂CO₃, 6 molar guanidinium thiocyanate, and 4 molar KOH. The Na₂CO₃-soluble fraction decreased by 26%, and the CDTA-soluble fraction increased by 54% 1 day after ethylene treatment. Concomitantly, an increase in the pectic polymer content of the PAW-soluble fraction occurred without loss of galactose from the cell wall. The molecular weight of the PAW-soluble pectic fraction 1 day after ethylene treatment was similar to that of the Na₂CO₃-soluble fraction before ethylene treatment. Four days after ethylene treatment, 60% of cell wall polyuronide was solubilized, and 50% of the galactose was lost from the CWM, but the degree of galactosylation and molecular weight of pectic polymers remaining in the CWMs did not decrease. The exception was the CDTA-soluble fraction which showed an apparent decrease in molecular weight during ripening. Concurrently, the PAW-soluble pectic fraction showed a 20-fold reduction in molecular weight. The results suggest that considerable solubilization of the pectic polymers occurred during ripening without changes to their primary structure or degree of polymerization. Following solubilization, the polymers then became susceptible to depolymerization and degalactosidation. Pectolytic enzymes such as endopolygalacturonase and β-galactosidase were therefore implicated in the degradation of solubilized cell wall pectic polymers but not the initial solubilization of the bulk of the pectic polymers in vivo.     

Degradation of Cell Wall Polysaccharides during Tomato Fruit Ripening

Changes in neutral sugar, uronic acid, and protein content of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) cell walls during ripening were characterized. The only components to decline in amount were galactose, arabinose, and galacturonic acid. Isolated cell walls of ripening fruit contained a water-soluble polyuronide, possibly a product of in vivo polygalacturonase action. This polyuronide and the one obtained by incubating walls from mature green fruit with tomato polygalacturonase contained relatively much less neutral sugar than did intact cell walls. The ripening-related decline in galactose and arabinose content appeared to be separate from polyuronide solubilization. In the rin mutant, the postharvest loss of these neutral sugars occurred in the absence of polygalacturonase and polyuronide solubilization. The enzyme(s) responsible for the removal of galactose and arabinose was not identified; a tomato cell wall polysaccharide containing galactose and arabinose (6:1) was not hydrolyzed by tomato β-galactosidase.     

The Influence of Root Temperature, Rhizobium Strain and Host Selection on the Structure and Nitrogen-fixing Efficiency of the Root Nodules of Trifolium subterraneum

Low root temperature greatly affected the structure and N2-fixingefficiency of root nodules. More nodule tissue was formed perplant at 11 and 15 °C than at 7 and 19 °C. Low roottemperatures either prevented or slowed bacteroid differentiation;the differentiation zone was 19 per cent of the total noduletissue at 7 °C but only 5 per cent at 19 °C. The amount of bacteroid tissue formed at the different roottemperatures by the two fully effective strains TAi and SU297reflected the environment from which they originated. Both formedthe same amount at 15 and 19 °C but only TAI, which originatedfrom a cold environment formed bacteroids at 7 °C. At 7°C a bacteroid-filled cell did not degenerate until after20 days, cf. less than 10 days at 19 °C. At 7 and 11 °Call strains formed more bacteroids in the abundantly nodulatingthan in the sparse host independently of nodule number. Strain0403 was most sensitive to both temperature and host; it formedbacteroids in nodules on the sparse host at 19 °C only,but formed bacteroids in the abundant host between 7–19°C. The amount of bacteroid tissue formed by TAI and SU297 dependeddirectly on nodule number and was approximately constant between20–40 days only at 19 °C when nodule formation hadalmost stopped. The optimum temperature for maximum fixation of nitrogen wasnot necessarily that for maximum efficiency of fixation, whichfor these experiments was 51 ug N mm-3 bacteroid tissue perday.     

Slow and steady phosphate solubilization by a psychrotolerant strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paecilomyces</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">hepiali</Emphasis> (MTCC 9621)

A psychrotolerant phosphate solubilizing fungus has been isolated from the rock soil of a cold desert site in Indian Himalaya. The fungus grows from 4 to 35°C (optimum 21°C), and from 2 to 13.5 pH (optimum 9) under laboratory conditions. Based on phenotypic characters and 26S rDNA analysis, the fungus is identified as Paecilomyces hepiali. In quantitative estimation that was carried out at 9, 14, and 21°C, the fungus solubilized maximum phosphate at 14°C. In view of the slow growth and persistence of the desired activity at low temperature, the estimation was carried out for a longer period, i.e., up to 6 weeks. The suboptimal conditions for growth and biomass production were found to be optimal for phosphate solubilization by the fungus. At 14 and 9°C, the solubilization touched its maximum on day 42. Decline in pH was found to be significantly correlated with the phosphate solubilization at all the temperatures, under consideration. The acid phosphatase activity was found to be more prominent than alkaline phosphatase in culture filtrate. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis showed production of six organic acids, gluconic and α-keto glutaric acid being in maximum amount in the culture filtrate. The study has ecological significance in view of the nutrient cycling under low temperature environment, prevalent in Himalayan region.     

Effect of Casein on the Extractability and Stability of Nitrate Reductase From Wheat Leaves

The effect of casein on the extraction and stability of nitratereductase (EC 1.6.6.1 [EC] ) from the primary leaf of the wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) cultivar Olympic was examined. The use of 2 percent casein in the extraction medium resulted in a small butsignificant (P > 0·05) increase in nitrate reductaseactivity at the time of assay. This increase in activity wasnot attributable to improved extraction but was a result ofincreased stability of the enzyme between time of extractionand assay. The presence of casein actually resulted in lessactivity being extracted during the grinding procedure. Othercultivars of wheat examined showed a small increase in activityat the time of assay when extracted in the presence of casein.However, the ranking of these cultivars with respect to nitratereductase activity did not alter markedly when casein was used.A number of other species examined showed a wide variation inresponse to casein, while buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculenta) andoats (Avena sativa) had an absolute requirement, maize (Zeamays cv. XL45) was relatively unaffected. Nitrate reductasein crude extracts decayed exponentially with time at both 0°and 10 °C with a half-life of 216 and 109 min respectively.Casein added before or after extraction completely stabilizedthe enzyme over a period of several hours at 0 °C whileat 10 °C the enzyme had a half-life of approximately 16h. The effect of casein at both 0° and 10 °C was independentof the concentration used within the range 0·5 to 4·0per ant. casein, genotype, nitrate reductase, stability, Triticum aestivum L.     

Mixis strategies and resting eeg production of rotifers living in temporally-varying habitats

The organic phosphate pool of some Camargue sediments (South of France) was studied, after removal of inorganic phosphate, with Ca-NTA/dithionite (Fe bound phosphate) and Na-EDTA (Ca bound phosphate). The organic phosphate was divided into an acid soluble organic phosphate fraction (ASOP) and a residual organic phosphate fraction (ROP). The extraction of organic matter with 2.0 M NaOH (90 °C) from ROP yielded considerable quantities of Org-P. In this extract the presence of phytate (inositol hexa phosphate) could be demonstrated using phytase to hydrolyse the phytate. Phytate was shown to account for a considerable part of organic phosphate in sediments of freshwater marsh sediments as well as in the sediment of the brackish/salt water lake ‘Etang de Vaccares’. In laboratory experiments phytate was found to precipitate with all poly-valent cations tested. Furthermore, phytate was found to be strongly adsorbed onto Fe(OOH), which may explain its accumulation and its stability in sediments. Considerable quantities of ASOP were found; the chemical stucture of this pool remains unknown.     

Polysaccharides and glycoproteins of apple fruit cell walls

A proportion of the polysaccharides and glycoproteins of apple fruit cell walls can be readily extracted in neutral buffer at or below 20°. Removal of more material was not achieved with a wide range of dissociative aqueous reagents or non-aqueous solvents. Thus traditional degradative extractants were used to obtain soluble components for further characterization. Polysaccharides and glycoproteins were separated and purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose columns and by gel filtration. Purified components were hydrolysed and analysed for neutral sugar and uronic acid content and for their amino acid and hydroxyproline content. The possibility of linkages existing in the cell wall between polyuronide and glycoproteins containing hydroxyproline, arabinose and galactose residues is discussed. Because of aggregation between these components, which occurs after extraction, the presence of such linkages in vivo is difficult to establish. Other cell wall glycoproteins containing xylose and glucose residues are thought to have a possible role in stabilizing hemicellulose structure.     

Characterization of plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Exiguobacterium</Emphasis> NII-0906 for its growth promotion of cowpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna unguiculata</Emphasis>)

A phosphate solubilizing and antagonistic bacterial strain, isolated from a Western Ghat forest soil in Kerala province, India (designated as NII-0906), showed cold tolerance and grew from 10 to 37°C (optimum temperature 30°C). It was a Gram-positive, rod shaped, 0.8–1.6 μm in size, and exhibited tolerance to a wide pH range (5–12; optimum 7.0) and salt concentration up to 7% (w/v). The isolate showed maximum similarity with Exiguobacterium marinum TF-80^T based on 16S rRNA analysis. It solubilized tricalcium phosphate under in vitro conditions. The phosphate solubilization was estimated along a temperature range (5–40°C), and maximum activity (84.7 μg mL⁻¹ day⁻¹) was recorded at 30°C after 10 days of incubation. The phosphate solubilizing activity coincided with a concomitant decrease in pH of the medium. The isolate also exhibited antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi in Petri dish assays and produced siderophore and hydrogen cyanide. The strain’s plant growth promotion properties were demonstrated through a cowpea-based bioassay under greenhouse conditions. The bacterial inoculation resulted in significant increment in plant root, stem and as well as in plant biomass. Further, scanning electron microscopic study revealed the root colonization in cowpea. These results could offer potential perspective for the strain to be used as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, which could be used as an inoculant for regional crops.