A heavy metal tolerant Thiopseudomonas alkaliphila strain as a potential plant growth promoter isolated from Bengaluru region

ABSTRACT

Thiopseudomonas alkaliphila, a Pseudomonadaceae has diverse environmental role that has not been much explored. Current study highlights, the isolated strain from industrial sites of Bengaluru with heavy metal tolerance against lead, chromium and cadmium. The antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed sensitive against all the antibiotics used in the study. Subsequently, 16s rRNA analysis established and closely related to T. alkaliphila D2441 strain, whole genome was submitted, GenBank SRA database accession number is as follows PRJNA1258058. The unravelling of genetic determinants analyzed for heavy metals, antibiotic resistance and plant growth promoting traits were compared with related strains. A single chromosome with 2,400,551 bp length, average GC ratio 49.44 % and with 1941 protein-encoding genes (PEGs), the strain can bioremediate different heavy metals (354 genes/proteins), along with an aptitude as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) evidenced by genes showcasing tolerance against adverse environmental conditions under stress for phytohormones, plant nutrient acquisition, heat and shock chaperones, siderophore etc. The study highlights, T. alkaliphila as a non-pathogenic, potential heavy metal remediator with potential activity for PGPR traits at genetic levels.