Abstract
Zinc (Zn) is an important micronutrient and its adequate supply is considered indispensable for growth, development and
normal functioning of plants. Recent reports reveal that more than 70% of Pakistani soils are Zn deficient. ZnSO4, containing
33% Zn, is commonly used, but only 4-8% of the total applied Zn is available to plants while remaining gets fixed into soil.
Contrarily, zinc oxide is a cheaper and insoluble source which contains 80% Zn. However, zinc solubilizing bacteria could be
used to solubilize insoluble sources of zinc (ZnO). Keeping in view the above stated problem, the present study was conducted
for isolation, screening, identification and characterization of efficient zinc solubilizing bacteria for improving growth of
maize. Several bacteria were isolated from rhizosphere of maize through dilution plate technique. The selected bacterial
isolates, capable of solubilizing ZnO, were further screened for their plant growth promoting activity under axenic conditions.
Out of ten bacterial isolates, AZ6 was found best strain on the basis of maximum zinc solubilization potential and growth
promotion of maize. The selected bacterium was identified as Bacillus sp. AZ6 (Accession # KT221633). Bacillus sp. AZ6
had different growth promoting attributes and also ability to produce organic acids.
