TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIAL ISOLATE FROM RHIZOSPHERE OF BRINJAL (SOLANUM MELONGENA L.)

Background:Rhizosphere, phylloplane and caulosphere is the region where a complex community of microbes, mainly bacteria and fungi are present. The microbe plant interaction in these regions can be beneficial, neutral, variable, or deleterious for plant growth. The bacteria that exert beneficial effects on plant development are termed plant growth promoting bacteria. Objectives: To identify the bacteria isolated from rhizosphere of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) by transmission electron microscope (TEM).Materials and Methods: The pure cultures of bacterial isolate from brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) were used to identify the bacteria. Identification of bacteria was done by transmission electron microscope using reference strain viz., Bacillus polymyxa strain 10401 obtained from France.Results:The BBI revealed rod shaped sporulating bacteria with single polar flagella as observed under transmission electron microscope. The bacterial isolate which showed nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilizing properties was identified as Bacillus polymyxa belonging to the class Eubacteriales, family Bacillaceae and genera Bacillus. Conclusion: Transmission electron microscope studies revealed that the BBI was a rod shaped bacteria with a single polar flagellum. The bacterial cell measured 2.57 µm (2570 nm) in length and 0.8570 µm (857 nm) in breadth. Furthermore, TEM studies of the sporulating culture revealed the presence of a large central spore, confirming light microscopic observations. The single large spore occupied the entire inner space of the bacterial cell.