Mountain aspect influences the genetic clustering of psychrotolerant phosphate solubilizing Pseudomonads in the Uttarakhand Himalayas

Fourteen cold tolerant phosphate solubilizing bacteria isolated from high altitude representative locations of the two major mountain aspects of the Uttarakhand Himalayas (cooler north and warmer south facing slopes) were selected for this study. The tricalcium phosphate (TCP) solubilizing abilities of the isolates were estimated at three different incubation temperatures viz., 4, 15, and 30 degrees C under in vitro conditions. Irrespective of their geographical origin, all the isolates recorded maximum P release values at 30 degrees C...