Abstract: Screening isolates for phosphate accumulation by quantitative methods requires investment of time, labor and chemicals. There has been paucity of a medium and method for screening phosphate-accumulating microorganisms (PAOs) from the environment. Therefore, a new screening strategy is needed towards isolating effective PAOs in environments with diverse microbial populations and limited organic resources, where it is possible that PAOs are often out-competed by organisms capable of utilizing available nutrients more rapidly. In view of these problems, a medium optimal for an efficient screening of P-accumulating microorganisms was developed, which is rapid and allows many PAOs to be screened. Thus, the present invention utilizes Toluidine Blue-O (TBO) a blue colored dye, which decolorizes due drop in the concentration of phosphate in the medium, as an indicator to quickly evaluate the P-accumulating microorganisms based upon visual observations.

Abstract: Screening isolates for phosphate accumulation by quantitative methods requires investment of time, labour and chemicals. There has been paucity of a medium and method for screening phosphate-accumulating microorganisms (PAOs) from the environment. Therefore, a new screening strategy is needed towards isolating effective PAOs in environments with diverse microbial populations and limited organic resources, where it is possible that PAOs are often out-competed by organisms capable of utilising available nutrients more rapidly. In view of these problems, a medium optimal for an efficient screening of P-accumulating microorganisms was developed, which is rapid and allows many PAOs to be screened. Thus, the present invention utilizes Toluidine Blue-O (TBO) a blue coloured dye, which decolorizes due drop in the concentration of phosphate in the medium, as an indicator to quickly evaluate the P-accumulating microorganisms based upon visual observations.