N.M. SHAIKH, B.P JINTURKAR AND A.B. ADE
Abstract
Azotobacter chroococcum is a nitrogen fixing, free living, aerobic bacteria which is found in the rhizospheric region of the plants. In this study 9 samples have been collected from the rhizospheric region of sugarcane plant of taluka Baramati. 7 samples developed the white, opaque colonies with aging show brown to black pigmentation, isolates were morphologically showing Gram negative test and rodshaped bacteria for all the isolates and biochemical characterization revealed that all the isolates showed positive result for hydrogen sulfide production, catalase, gelatin liquefaction, starch hydrolysis and indole acetic acid production, while negative for potassium hydroxide. Morphological and biochemical tests confirmed the isolate as Azotobacter chroococcum.