For the FePO4 experiment, we selected two bacterial strains,
PG12 (siderophore-producing ARB) and mutant PchA impaired in
siderophore-production. The control was selected so that we can
see the effect of siderophore in the bacterial spent media. For the
phytate experiment, we selected two bacterial strains, PG6 (highest
phytate solubilization among 7 ARB) and control strain P.
chlororaphis (low phytate solubilization). Tomato plants acclimated
in 0.2 HNS with low P and 0.2 mg L1 Fe received 20 mL of spent
medium from PG12 or PchA mutant and 0.2 g of phytate. The
tomato plants acclimated in 0.2 HNS with low P and no Fe
received 20 mL of spent medium from PG6 or PC and 0.2 g of
FePO4. The plants were then grown for 1 week with 3 replicates.