Exopolysaccharide production by Rhizobium leguminosarum and its role in biofilm formation
Peer Mohmad Junaid* and Fatima Khan**
*Department of Botany, Govt. Motilal Vigyan Mahavidyalaya, Bhopal-462008 (India) *junaidpeerzada@gmail.com.
ABSTRACT
The acidic exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Rhizobium leguminosarum is required for the foundation of viable advantageous interaction with good host plants. In the rhizobium legume interaction, early stages of root infection and nodules development have been well studied from a hereditary point of view. However, vital factors for colonization of a few surfaces by rhizobia, including soil particles and roots, have not yet been completely explored. The main aim of this research work was building up of environmental variables influencing production of EPS by Rhizobium leguminosarum isolates and the role of this polysaccharide in bacterial surface properties and capacity of attachment. Among rhizobial strains RLB1, its subsidiaries varying in the degree of EPS synthesis were utilized to these investigations. The capacity of attachment to abiotic and biotic surfaces of these strains was built up utilizing colony forming unit test (CFU). It was confirmed that the capacity of Rhizobium leguminosarum to produce EPS significantly influenced bacterial connection and biofilm formation on both abiotic and biotic surfaces. Also, the presence of this polysaccharide affected the zeta potential of rhizobial cells. EPS facilitated connection of bacterial cells to the tested surfaces most presumably because of hydrophobic associations and heterogeneity of the envelope surface. EPS synthesized by Rhizobium leguminosarum assumes a significant contribution in attachment and formation of biofilm to both abiotic and biotic surfaces just as bacterial surface properties.