Establishment of phosphate-solubilizing strains of Azotobacter chroococcum in the rhizosphere and their effect on wheat cultivars under green house conditions

A pot experiment was conducted in the green house to investigate the establishment of phosphate solubilizing strains of Azotobacter chroococcum, including soil isolates and their mutants, in the rhizosphere and their effect on growth parameters and root biomass of three genetically divergent wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.). Five fertilizer treatments were performed: Control, 90 kg N ha(-1), 90 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 ha(-1), 120 kg N ha(-1) and 120 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 ha(-1). Phosphate solubilizing and phytohormone producing parent soil isolates and mutant strains of A. chroococcum were isolated and selected by an enrichment method. In vitro phosphate solubilization and growth hormone production by mutant strains was increased compared with soil isolates. Seed inoculation of wheat varieties with P solubilizing and phytohormone producing A. chroococcum showed better response compared with controls. Mutant strains of A. chroococcum showed higher increase in grain (12.6%) and straw (11.4%) yield over control and their survival (12-14%) in the rhizosphere as compared to their parent soil isolate (P4). Mutant strain M37 performed better in all three varieties in terms of increase in grain yield (14.0%) and root biomass (11.4%) over control.     

Growth enhancement of Sesamum indicum L. by rhizosphere-competent Azotobacter chroococcum AZO2 and its antagonistic activity against Macrophomina phaseolina

Indigenous strains isolated from rhizosphere may contain highly competent genotypes to enhance the plant growth and often perform better than the introduced isolates. The present study deals with the characterisation of plant growth-promoting (PGP) attributes and antagonistic activity of Azotobacter chroococcum AZO2 against Macrophomina phaseolina causing charcoal rot disease and their effect on the growth of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). Eight strains of Azotobacter were isolated from sesame rhizosphere on nitrogen-free medium, which exhibited significant PGP parameters such as phosphate solubilisation, indole acetic acid and siderophore production. The strain A. chroococcum AZO2 (EU274299) was characterised by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Amplification of 781 bp nif H gene confirms nitrogenase activity of all the strains. A. chroococcum AZO2 exhibited strong antagonistic activities against M. phaseolina causing 81% colony growth inhibition and resulted in hyphal perforations, empty cell (halo) formation, hyphal twisting, shrinking and lysis of fungal mycelia along with degeneration of sclerotia. A. chroococcum AZO2 produced chitinase that caused degradation and digestion of the cell wall component of M. phaseolina. Different vegetative and reproductive parameters of sesame were found to be enhanced significantly upon application of A. chroococcum AZO2 + half doses of chemical fertilisers. A. chroococcum AZO2 was also found to be an effective root coloniser, plant growth promoter and potential antagonistic bacterium. It can be concluded that A. chroococcum AZO2 strain bears the characteristics of technological applications for inoculant preparation and growth enhancement of sesame besides being utilised as a better PGP bacterium as well as an effective agent for biocontrol of M. phaseolina.     

Combined effect of chemical fertilisers and rhizosphere-competent Bacillus subtilis BSK17 on yield of Cicer arietinum

A chemical fertiliser-adaptive variant, Bacillus subtilis BSK17, showed induction in growth at 0.32?M of Urea, 0.05?M of DAP, 0.04?M of MoP and 0.08 of gypsum. In addition, B. subtilis BSK17 produced various plant growth-promoting substances and showed higher colony growth inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum that increased with increase in incubation time and reached the maximum by 78% at 120?h. In field, antibiotic-resistant marker strains of B. subtilis BSK17^ery+ and B. subtilis BSK17^tet+ showed more improvement in seed yield (90% than the control and 24% than full dose of chemical fertilisers) of Cicer arietinum when applied with half dose of chemical fertilisers (N₅₊₅P₁₅₊₁₅K₁₅S_10+10+10). Root length, shoot length, fresh and dry weight of root and shoot of plants were enhanced after 120?days in comparison to control; all values were significant at 1% CD. The strain significantly colonised the rhizosphere of C. arietinum by 6.64 log cfu after 120?days.     

紫花苜蓿根际氢氧化细菌的分离及其对小麦种子促生作用的研究

从大豆植物根际分离的氢氧化细菌对植物的生长有促进作用,但是关于其他的豆科植物根际分离的氢氧化细菌是否也有促生作用的研究甚少。从紫花苜蓿根际土壤分离氢氧化细菌,并进行其对小麦种子促生实验的研究,判断氢氧化细菌是否有促生作用,从而丰富具有促生作用的根际微生物资源。采用MSA培养基,从铜川新区紫花苜蓿根际土壤中分离得到氢氧化细菌疑似菌株,对其进行TTC法检测菌株氢化酶活性和自养能力的特性,以获得氢氧化细菌;通过小麦种子的萌发进行促生实验验证。结果表明,16株菌株处理过的小麦根长分别增加25%～128%,芽长增长27%～73%,鲜重增加48%～103%。从苜蓿根际土壤分离出的氢氧化细菌均具有较明显的促生作用。     

Influence of plant growth regulators on growth, morpho-physiological characters and yield of summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L. cv. Rama) under moisture stress

Field experiments were conducted with sesame (Sesamum indicum L. cv. Rama) for two years (1997 and 1998) to study the effect of three level of irrigation (F+C, B+C, B+F+C) and two growth regulators (CCC, 200 ppm CCC; 100 ppm and BX-112, 100 ppm; BX-112, 50 ppm) on growth (root and shoot length, average number of primary branches/plant), morpho-physiological growth parameters(LAI, LAD, CGR and NAR), yield attributing parameters(average number of capsule/plant, average number of seeds/capsule) and seed yield. Irrigation at B+F+C stage showed significant effect on these parameters. Among the growth regulators, CCC, 200 ppm showed remarkable results on these parameters and seed yield. Seed yield in CCC, 200 ppm treatment was more than 53% in comparison to water soaked seeds. The interaction between irrigation and PGR showed better seed yield and it was concluded that the growth regulator CCC might be utilized for enhancement of seed yield of summer sesame under field condition.     

Enhancing crop growth, nutrients availability, economics and beneficial rhizosphere microflora through organic and biofertilizers

Field experiment was conducted on fodder maize to explore the potential of integrated use of chemical, organic and biofertilizers for improving maize growth, beneficial microflora in the rhizosphere and the economic returns. The treatments were designed to make comparison of NPK fertilizer with different combinations of half dose of NP with organic and biofertilizers viz. biological potassium fertilizer (BPF), Biopower, effective microorganisms (EM) and green force compost (GFC). Data reflected maximum crop growth in terms of plant height, leaf area and fresh biomass with the treatment of full NPK; and it was followed by BPF+full NP. The highest uptake of NPK nutrients by crop was recorded as: N under half NP+Biopower; P in BPF+full NP; and K from full NPK. The rhizosphere microflora enumeration revealed that Biopower+EM applied along with half dose of GFC soil conditioner (SC) or NP fertilizer gave the highest count of N-fixing bacteria (Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Azoarcus andZoogloea). Regarding the P-solubilizing bacteria,Bacillus was having maximum population with Biopower+BPF+half NP, andPseudomonas under Biopower+EM+half NP treatment. It was concluded that integration of half dose of NP fertilizer with Biopower+BPF / EM can give similar crop yield as with full rate of NP fertilizer; and through reduced use of fertilizers the production cost is minimized and the net return maximized. However, the integration of half dose of NP fertilizer with biofertilizers and compost did not give maize fodder growth and yield comparable to that from full dose of NPK fertilizers.     

Improvement of biological control capacity of Paenibacillus polymyxa E681 by seed pelleting on sesame

Sesame is an important vegetable crop for the production of oil in Korea. The main obstacle of sesame cultivation is the occurrence of damping-off diseases and wilt caused by a complex of soil-borne pathogens in fields cultivated for two or more successive years. To protect sesame seedlings against these diseases, Paenibacillus polymyxa E681, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) previously shown to suppress disease incidence and promote growth on cucumber and pepper in the greenhouse and field experiments, was evaluated for its capacity for biological control and growth promotion in vitro and in situ. Seed treatment with strain E681 alone did not show consistent protection. Therefore, seed pelleting with strain E681 was attempted to increase the seed size and improve the stability and effectiveness of biocontrol capacity by strain E681. Through screening of pelleting materials, a combination of clay and vermiculite was selected for further experiments to enhance seed germination and root colonization of strain E681 on sesame. In greenhouse trials, formulations of strain E681 reduced disease incidence in disease-conducive soil. In the field, pelleting of sesame seeds with strain E681 significantly reduced pre- and post-emergence damping-off compared to the non-treated or pelleting alone controls; pelleting also promoted the plant growth and the grain yield. Furthermore, the efficacy of strain E681 for biological control and plant growth promotion was improved by sesame seed pelleting compared to the treatment with strain E681 alone. Hence, the application of strain E681 via seed pelleting offers potential to overcome some of the problems associated with successive years of sesame cultivation.     

Improvement of biological control capacity of Paenibacillus polymyxa E681 by seed pelleting on sesame

Sesame is an important vegetable crop for the production of oil in Korea. The main obstacle of sesame cultivation is the occurrence of damping-off diseases and wilt caused by a complex of soil-borne pathogens in fields cultivated for two or more successive years. To protect sesame seedlings against these diseases, Paenibacillus polymyxa E681, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) previously shown to suppress disease incidence and promote growth on cucumber and pepper in the greenhouse and field experiments, was evaluated for its capacity for biological control and growth promotion in vitro and in situ. Seed treatment with strain E681 alone did not show consistent protection. Therefore, seed pelleting with strain E681 was attempted to increase the seed size and improve the stability and effectiveness of biocontrol capacity by strain E681. Through screening of pelleting materials, a combination of clay and vermiculite was selected for further experiments to enhance seed germination and root colonization of strain E681 on sesame. In greenhouse trials, formulations of strain E681 reduced disease incidence in disease-conducive soil. In the field, pelleting of sesame seeds with strain E681 significantly reduced pre- and post-emergence damping-off compared to the non-treated or pelleting alone controls; pelleting also promoted the plant growth and the grain yield. Furthermore, the efficacy of strain E681 for biological control and plant growth promotion was improved by sesame seed pelleting compared to the treatment with strain E681 alone. Hence, the application of strain E681 via seed pelleting offers potential to overcome some of the problems associated with successive years of sesame cultivation.     

Biological effects of low-energy C ion implantation on sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Field cultivation experiments on white sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)seeds implanted with low-energy C ion showed that different dosages of C ion implantation produce different biological effects.Sesame plants in 6 different dosage groups with C ion density respectively at 1×1011,1×1012,1×1015,5×1015,1×1016,5×1016 ion/cm2 were superior to the control group in plant height,leaf number,stalk diameter and leaf size.Further,sesame plants in these groups flower and seed earlier than those in the control group,and single plant yield also increased.Of all the groups,the 5×1015 ion/cm2 dosage group yielded the best effect,whereas the 1×1017/cm2 dosage group showed an evident inhibitory effect of ion implantation on the germination and growth of the sesame seeds.     

Disease suppression and crop improvement in moong beans (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna radiata</Emphasis>) through <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Burkholderia</Emphasis> strains isolated from semi arid region of Rajasthan,India

Pseudomonas fluorescens BAM-4, Burkholderia cepacia BAM-6 and B. cepacia BAM-12 isolated from the rhizosphere of moong bean (Vigna radiata L.) showed significant growth-inhibitory activity against a range of phytopathogenic fungi. Light and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies showed morphological abnormalities such as fragmentation, swelling, perforation and lysis of hyphae of pathogens by Pseudomonas and Burkholderia. Two of the strains (BAM-4 and BAM-6) produced siderophore in CAS agar plates, whereas all three strains produced chitinase. Bacterization of seeds of moong bean with pseudomonads has been reported as a potential method for enhancing plant growth and yield, and for providing protection against Macrophomina phaseolina. Seed bacterization with these plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) showed a significant increase in seed germination, shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weight, root length, root fresh and dry weight, leaf area and rhizosphere colonization. Yield parameters such as pods, number of seeds, and grain yield per plant also enhanced significantly in comparison to control. The disease suppression and plant growth enhancement along with the positive rhizosphere colonization by these strains indicate their possible use as PGPR/biocontrol agents against charcoal rot.     

Survival of the rhizosphere-competent biocontrol strain Pseudomonas fluorescens NBRI2650 in the soil and phytosphere

Pseudomonas fluorescens NBRI2650 was isolated after screening 360 bacterial strains from the rhizosphere of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) grown in fungal-disease-suppressive field soil. The strain was selected because of its high rhizosphere competence and ability to inhibit the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri, Rhizoctonia bataticola, and Pythium sp. under in vitro conditions. Survival and colonization of NBRI2650 in the phytosphere of chickpea, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), and tomato (Lycopersicon seculentum Mill.) were monitored using a chromosomally located rifampicin-marked mutant P. fluorescens NBRI2650R. The strain showed variable ability to invade and survive in the phytosphere of different plants. Chickpea was used as a tester plant for further work, as it was not invaded by NBRI2650R. The interaction between NBRI2650R and F oxysporum fsp. ciceri was studied by both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The lysis of the fungal cell wall by NBRI2650R was clearly demonstrated. Treatment of the chickpea seeds with NBRI2650R in prerelease experiments in the greenhouse using disease-conducive field soils from Jhansi and Kanpur resulted in increased plant growth and did not result in any perturbation of the indigenous microbial community that inhabited the rhizosphere of chickpea compared with nonbacterized seeds. Direct fermentation of diluted NBRI2650R on vermiculite without the need of expensive fermentors offers a reliable process for manufacturing bacterial inoculants in developing countries. Under field conditions, the horizontal and vertical movement of NBRI2650R was restricted to 30 and 60 cm, respectively, and the strain could not survive in the field during the 7 months before the chickpea could be planted for next cropping season. Field trials conducted at Jhansi, Kanpur, and Pantnagar resulted in higher grain yield increase in the bacteria-treated seed compared with the nonbacterized control. Seed and furrow treatment of the two chickpeas ('Radhey' and 'H-208') at Pantnagar resulted in significantly (P = 0.05) greater seedling mortality in nonbacterized seedlings compared with bacterized ones. The seed dry weight and yield for each variety were also significantly higher in bacterized seedlings than in nonbacterized ones. The population of NBRI2650R persisted throughout the growing season of chickpea in the range of 5.4-6.4 log10 CFU/g root.     

Pseudomonas fluorescens DR54 Reduces Sclerotia Formation,Biomass Development,and Disease Incidence of Rhizoctonia solani Causing Damping-Off in Sugar Beet

Effects of the biocontrol strain, Pseudomonas fluorescens DR54, on growth and disease development by Rhizoctonia solani causing damping-off in sugar beet were studied in soil microcosms and in pot experiments with natural, clay-type soil. In pot experiments with P. fluorescens DR54-treated seeds, significantly fewer Rhizoctonia-challenged seedlings showed damping-off symptoms than when not inoculated with the biocontrol agent. In the rhizosphere of P. fluorescens DR54 inoculated seeds, the bacterial inoculant was present in high numbers as shown by dilution plating and immunoblotting. By the ELISA antibody technique and direct microscopy of the fungal pathogen grown in soil microcosms, it was shown that the presence of P. fluorescens DR54 on the inoculated seeds had a strong inhibitory effect on development of both mycelium biomass and sclerotia formation by R. solani. In the field experiment, plant emergence was increased by treatment with P. fluorescens DR54 and the inoculant was found to be the dominating rhizosphere colonizing pseudomonad immediately after seedling emergence.     

Field evaluation of different application methods of the mixture of Bacillus cereus strain AR156 and Bacillus subtilis strain SM21 on pepper growth and disease resistance

The mixture of Bacillus subtilis strain SM21 and Bacillus cereus strain AR156, referred to as ASB, is a biopesticide in the process of registration in China, which has the capacity of controlling root-knot nematode in cucumber, Phytophthora wilt in pepper and Ralstonia wilt in tomato. In this study, we tested its effects on a range of physiological indicators of plant growth including biomass, yield, chlorophyll content and fruit nutrients of pepper, as well as, its efficacy in controlling bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum under field conditions in 2009 and 2010 by a variety of inoculation methods. Three application methods – soaking seeds, drenching soil around seeds right after sowing and drenching the rhizosphere of transplanted seedling with the aqueous solution (as a soil drench) –and three concentrations of ASB (1.0 × 10⁶ CFU/mL, 1.0 × 10⁷ CFU/mL, and 1.0 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) were employed. The results showed that both soaking seeds with ASB at 1.0 × 10⁷ CFU/mL as well as drenching rhizosphere with ASB at 1.0 × 10⁶ CFU/mL and 1.0 × 10⁷ CFU/mL promoted growth, increased yield and fruit nutrient contents of pepper. The combination of these two inoculation methods led to significant increases in growth and fruit nutrient contents. We found that the most effective way was the combination of soaking seeds with the ASB at 1.0 × 10⁷ CFU/mL and drenching rhizosphere with it at 1.0 × 10⁶ CFU/mL, which is also easy for Chinese farmers to implement.     

内生真菌与苍术粉对连作花生根际微生物区系和微量元素的影响

通过盆栽试验,研究了内生真菌拟茎点霉B3(Phomopsis liquidambari)及苍术(Atractylodes lancea)粉联合施用对连作花生根际土壤微生物区系、酶活性及有效态微量元素(Mo、B、DTPA-Fe、Zn、Cu、Mn)含量的影响。结果表明:内生真菌B3和苍术粉复合处理比内生真菌B3处理的荚果和秸秆产量分别增加10.28%和14.11%,内生真菌B3处理与正常施肥相比显著提高了根瘤数量、荚果和秸秆产重,各处理组与正常施肥对照相比分枝数和根长无显著差异。B3处理与对照相比显著提高了种子期、结荚期和成熟期根际土壤可培养细菌和放线菌数量,B3和苍术粉复合处理与对照相比显著提高种子期、花期和成熟期可培养真菌和放线菌数量;细菌DGGE指纹图谱聚类分析表明,B3和苍术粉复合处理相对于正常施肥处理,显著改变种子期、苗期、花期和成熟期花生根际土壤细菌群落结构,同时苗期、花期和结荚期的细菌条带数和香农指数也有所提高,真菌DGGE指纹图谱聚类分析表明,B3和苍术粉复合处理对真菌群落影响较大,除种子期以外的生育期真菌条带数和香农指数都有明显提高,花期真菌群落结构变化最大,相似度仅为49.6%。花生关键生育期(花期和结荚期)根际土壤脲酶和蔗糖酶活性B3处理和复合处理都显著高于正常施肥对照,促进了连作花生生态系统的物质循环和能量流动。B3和苍术粉复合处理促进了花生生长发育必需微量元素Mo、B、Fe、Zn、Mn的活化,花生叶片和籽粒中微量元素Mo、B、Fe的积累显著增加。研究结果表明,内生真菌和苍术粉联合施用能有效改善连作花生根际微生物区系,提高土壤酶活性,促进微量元素的活化和吸收,对缓解花生连作障碍具有重要意义。     

Analogue-resistant mutants of Azotobacter chroococcum derepressed for nitrogenase activity and early ammonia excretion having potential as inoculants for cereal crops

Spontaneous mutants resistant to methionine sulfoximine (Msx), methyl alanine (Mal) and methyl ammonium chloride (Mac) were derived from A. chroococcum strain A103. Msx and Mal-resistant mutants expressed 1.73 to 10.98% of the fully derepressed nitrogenase activity when grown in Burk's medium containing ammonium acetate. Mac-resistant mutants did not express nitrogenase activity in ammonium acetate supplemented medium. The mutants excreted ammonia even after 2 days of growth and some mutants excreted more ammonia as compared to the parent. Selected mutants were inoculated on wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) under field conditions. Majority of the derepressed mutants increased grain yield of wheat and barley varying from 1.2 to 33.3%. However, host-dependent effects on grain yield were observed with different mutants. Two mutants, Mal 27 and Mac 19 showed significant increase in grain yields of both the crops. The results suggest that metabolic analogue-resistant mutants of Azotobacter have potential for use as a biofertilizer for cereal crops.     

氮肥运筹对免耕水稻根系生长、根际土壤特性及产量的影响

为探索氮肥运筹对免耕条件下水稻根系生长以及对根际土壤特性、产量的影响,以金优253为材料进行试验。结果表明：平衡施肥显著提高单株根系干重、根长、单株生物量、根半径、单株根表面积、根长密度及根系活力,实收单产高于重穗肥和重基肥处理,且与重基肥差异达95％的显著水平,主要是有效穗数、结实率的增加。平衡施肥显著提高0~10 cm土层的0~2 mm根际土壤有机质、碱解氮含量及脲酶、蔗糖酶活性。因此平衡施肥能明显促进免耕水稻根系生长和有效穗数的增加,对提高水稻产量具有促进作用。     

盐胁迫对氢氧化细菌WMQ7浸种小麦萌发和生长的影响

从紫花苜蓿根际土壤分离得到的一株含有ACC脱氨酶以及铁载体的氢氧化细菌WMQ7,通过皿内试验,考查其在不同盐浓度下对小麦‘陕优225’的促生效应。结果表明,低盐胁迫(0.4%NaCl)下,用氢氧化细菌WMQ7菌悬液浸种的小麦发芽粒数、发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、胚芽、胚根长有明显的增高;同时脯氨酸积累速度与对照组相比显著减缓,对照组脯氨酸含量于胁迫第11天时已达1 383μg.mL-1,高出接菌组3.8倍;丙二醛含量与对照组相比减少了69.28%,过氧化物酶活性显著升高,高出对照组44.44%。而高盐胁迫下(0.8%NaCl),与对照组相比,接菌组对小麦萌发指标有一定影响,丙二醛含量变化不显著,但脯氨酸含量及过氧化物酶活性变化显著。研究表明,氢氧化细菌WMQ7浸种小麦处理对低盐胁迫的伤害有一定的缓解作用,但在高盐胁迫下却无明显效果。     

Effect of Azotobacter strains on sugar beet callus proliferation and nitrogen metabolism enzymes

The effect of five Azotobacter chroococcum strains and nitrogen content in nutrient media on callus growth of two Beta vulgaris L. cultivars were investigated, as well as the activity of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in inoculated callus tissue. On medium with full nitrogen content (1 N) the inoculation with A. chroococcum strain A2 resulted in the highest calli mass, while strains A8 and A14 maximally increased NR activity. On media with 1/8 N the highest effect on calli growth, GS and GDH activity had the strain A8. The strain A2/1 significantly increased callus proliferation on medium without N. Asymbiotic association between sugar beet calli and Azotobacter depended on genotype/strain interaction and was realised in presence of different nitrogen levels. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Associations of sugar beet and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in vitro

The associations of four Azotobacter chroococcum strains (2, 5, 8 14) isolated from the rhizosphere with two sugar beet hybrids (Hy-11 and Dana) grown in vitro have been investigated. All tested strains caused an increase in dry mass of both hybrids almost proportionally to the nitrogen content in the medium. Plant nitrogen content was also higher in inoculated variants. The highest nitrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities were in Hy-11 associated with strain 5 and in hybrid Dana associated with strain 8. These associations were the most effective in N2-fixation 2 weeks after inoculation. The results showed specificity of individual strains with respect to individual hybrids. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characterization of zinc-solubilizing Bacillus isolates and their potential to influence zinc assimilation in soybean seeds

One hundred thirty-four putative Bacillus isolates were recovered from soybean rhizosphere soils of Nimar region to select effective zinc solubilizers for increased assimilation of zinc (Zn) in soybean seeds. These isolates were screened in vitro for zinc-solubilization ability on Tris-minimal agar medium supplemented separately with 0.1% zinc in the form of zinc oxide, zinc phosphate, and zinc carbonate. Of all, 9 isolates and a reference Bacillus cereus ATCC 13061 were characterized and identified as Bacillus species based on Gram-positive reaction, endospore-forming cells, and the presence of iso-C??:? and anteiso-C??:? as predominant fatty acids. On plate assay, two isolates KHBD-6 and KHBAR-1 showed a greater diameter of solubilization halo and colony diameter on all the three zinc compounds. The isolates KHBD-6, KHBAR-1, BDSD-2-2C, and KHTH-4-1 and the reference strain ATCC 13061 had higher soluble zinc concentration in liquid medium supplemented with zinc phosphate and zinc carbonate compounds as compared with the other isolates and uninoculated control. Evaluation under microcosm conditions showed that inoculation of isolates KHBD-6 (57.34 μg/g), KHBAR-1 (55.67 μg/g), and strain ATCC 13061 (53.10 μg/g) significantly increased the Zn concentration in soybean seeds as compared with the other isolates and uninoculated control (47.14 μg/g). This study suggests the occurrence of zinc-solubilizing Bacillus in soils of Nimar region and isolates KHBD-6 and KHBAR-1 were found to be promising zinc solubilizers for increased assimilation of Zn in soybean seeds.