Phosphate Solubilization Potential of Rhizosphere Fungi Isolated from Plants in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is one of the major bioelements limiting agricultural production. Phosphate solubilizing fungi play a noteworthy role in increasing the bioavailability of soil phosphates for plants. The present study was aimed at isolating and characterizing phosphate solubilizing fungi from different rhizospheres using both solid and liquid Pikovskaya (PVK) medium. A total of 359 fungal isolates were obtained from 150 rhizosphere soil samples of haricot bean, faba bean, cabbage, tomato, and sugarcane. Among the isolates, 167 (46.52%) solubilized inorganic phosphate. The isolated phosphate solubilizing fungi belonged to genera of Aspergillus (55.69%), Penicillium spp. (23.35%), and Fusarium (9.58%). Solubilization index (SI) ranged from 1.10 to 3.05. Isolates designated as JUHbF95 (Aspergillus sp.) and JUFbF59 (Penicillium sp.) solubilized maximum amount of P 728.77 μg·mL−1 and 514.44 μg mL−1, respectively, from TCP (tricalcium phosphate) after 15 days of incubation. The highest (363 μg mL−1) soluble-P was released from RP with the inoculation of JUHbF95 in the PVK broth after 10 days of incubation. The present study indicated the presence of diverse plant associated P-solubilizing fungi that may serve as potential biofertilizers.

The ability of two fungi to dissolve hardly soluble phosphates in solution

“…This may be due to the efficiency of Aspergillus spp. in root colonisation as reported by Nenwani et al (2010) and Elias et al (2016).…”

“…The possible reason for these anomalous behaviours on liquid and solid media could be attributed to nutrient availability, varying diffusion rates of different organic acids secreted by fungi, and growth requirement of fungi (Jain et al 2014). The results concluded that for the selection of efficient PSF isolates, the screening should be done on both solid and liquid media (Johri et al 1999;Alam et al 2002;Elias et al 2016). Two P- a) The value of soluble P is a means ± standard error (n = 3).…”

Growth Improvement of Tomato With the Application of Bacterial Isolates Producing Indole Acetic Acid (Iaa) and Phosphate Solubilizer

“…Another report on rhizosphere fungi isolated from plants in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, showed that 46.52 % isolates are capable of solubilizing inorganic phosphate with solubilization index ranged from 1.1 to 3.05. However, there was no report on their effect on plant growth (Elias et al 2016).…”

SOLUBILIZACIÓN DE FUENTES INORGÁNICAS DE FÓSFORO POR MICROMICETOS AISLADOS DE LA RIZOSFERA DE PAPAYA VAR. MARADOL (Carica papaya L.) Y SU SUSCEPTIBILIDAD A HERBICIDAS CONVENCIONALES

“…En otro estudio, Yasser et al (2014) informaron sobre la solubilización de Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 por micromicetos de suelos egipcios con valores de IS de 1.08 a 1.45, destacando las especies Aspergillus japonicus (1.45), Aspergillus niger (1.12), Penicillium expansum (1.20), Penicillium funiculosum (1.40), Penicillium variable (1.13) y Penicillium purporogenum (1.30). Recientemente, Elias et al (2016) obtuvieron IS de 1.10 a 3.05 con aislamientos nativos de suelos etíopes, que en su mayoría fueron aislamientos de los géneros Penicillium y Aspergillus. En ambos estudios se reportaron IS menores a los obtenidos por los aislamientos SP5 (5.6) y SP11 (5.0, Penicillium sp.)…”