Characterization of Rhizobium sp. Q32 Isolated from Weathered Rocks and its Role in Silicate Mineral Weathering

摘要

One mineral-solubilizing strain was isolated from weathered potassic trachyte surfaces and identified as Rhizobium sp. Q32 based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The mineral (feldspar and biotite) dissolution potential and the physiological characteristics of the bacterium were investigated. Laboratory mineral dissolution experiments indicated that inoculation with the live bacterium significantly increased feldspar and biotite dissolution by a factor of 1.2-4.7 for Si and 1.2-1.5 for K in comparison with the dead bacterium inoculated controls. In addition, extracellular polysaccharide production by the bacterium increased with time but the bacterium produced small pH changes (6.0-6.5) in the course of mineral dissolution experiment. The bacterium was found to produce siderophores and have the characteristics of acid or alkali and salt tolerance and temperature resistance. The result suggested that feldspar and biotite dissolution may be mainly caused by extracellular polysaccharide and/or siderophores produced by the bacterium.