Isolation and Screening Bacterial Exopolysaccharide (EPS) from Potato Rhizosphere in Highland and the Potential as a Producer Indole Acetic Acid (IAA)

This study aimed to determine the ability of bacterial isolated from rhizosphere of potato plants in producing exopolysaccharide and growth stimulating substances such as Indole Acetic Acid (IAA).The soil samples were taken from three different land of slopes at elevation >1500 m above sea level at Malino,South Sulawesi. However, only 34 isolates formed a thick slime or mucoid when cultured onMacConcey medium.The ability of exopolysaccharide isolated bacterial in producing IAA was assayed in the presence of L-Tryptofan asa precursor.The result revealed that these 34 isolates were be able to produce IAA in range of 0.40 to 21.14 mg/L An isolate coded P2.67 was the most potential bacterium to produce IAA (21.14 ppm) followed by P2.56 (17.36 ppm), P3.42 (12.21 ppm), and P3.70 (9.21 ppm).