Functional metagenomics of phosphate solubilising microorganisms in sustainable wheat production –A review

Abstract

Phosphorus being one of the major nutrients required for the plant growth and development is available in very little proportions to the plant. In order to overcome the deficiency of phosphorus, it is added externally to the soil in the form of chemical phosphorus fertilizers. To overcome the potential problems caused by the use of chemical fertilizers, phosphate solubilizing microorganisms can be an alternative for sustainable agriculture. Wheat is an important staple in our dietary requirements. Therefore, the production of wheat through sustainable agriculture techniques must be undertaken. Very little information is available about the phosphate solubilizing microorganisms having potential in increasing wheat production. This is possibly  due  to  the  lack  of  knowledge  about  their cultural  characteristics  and  also  only  few  percentages  of  them  are  cultivable  in  the laboratory. To find out the potent phosphate solubilizing microorganisms from the wheat rhizosphere functional metagenomics can be a useful tool. With this technique we can directly isolate the environmental DNA and then clone it in suitable vector, introduce it into appropriate host and then study its phosphate solubilizing capacities. Through this technique, one can easily identify phosphate solubilizing microorganisms directly from their environment without using traditional isolation procedures. Functional metagenomics can be a useful tool to reveal the potent phosphate solubilizing microorganisms found in the wheat rhizosphere which are still unknown. Thus, metagenomics is a very helpful technology that can help to understand the microbial ecology and the functions associated with them can be studied by functional metagenomics.