Evaluation of rhizospheric fungi from acid soils of Jharkhand on phosphate solubilization

Abstract

Phosphate solubilising fungi (PSF) were isolated from various pea, mango and cauliflower-rhizosphere soils ofJharkhand. Three efficient phosphate solubilising fungi were selected based on their ability to form clear zone onPikovskaya’s agar medium. Incubation experiment was conducted with 3 sources of inorganic phosphorusimposed on 3 isolated strains of native phosphate solubilizing fungi. Among the PSF, Aspergillus niger producedthe highest phosphate solubilization zone and colony growth in all the sources of inorganic phosphorus com-pared to Trichoderma viride and Penicillium chrysogenum. Aspergillus niger attained the highest phosphorussolubilization efficiency and phosphorus solubilization index after 120h of incubation in tricalcium phosphate,96h of incubation in both potassium dihydrogen phosphate and ferric phosphate source. Trichoderma viride andPenicillium chrysogenum attained highest peak of phosphorus solubilization efficiency and phosphorus solubi-lization index after 144 and 120h of incubation in tricalcium phosphate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate,respectively. In ferric phosphate source, Trichoderma viride and Penicillium chrysogenum attained highest peakof phosphorus solubilization efficiency and phosphorus solubilization index after 96 and 120h of incubation,respectively. Aspergillus niger was found to be the most efficient in solubilizing phosphate from the inorganicsources at the earliest followed by Trichoderma viride and Penicillium chrysogenum.