Searching for phosphate solubilizinz tungal isolates from soil

Abstract

A total of 354 fungal isolates were obtained from soil samples collected from forests, river basins and agricultural fields of North Bengal using serial dilution, direct soil plating, serial root washing and root maceration techniques. Cultural characteristics of the isolated fungi were studied and microscopic observations were made for identification of these isolates. All the isolates were screened for their phosphate solubilizing activities in vitro. A total of 70 fungal isolates showed phosphate solubilizing activities as detected in Pikovskaya's agar medium. Quantitative evaluation of phosphate solubilization in liquid medium supplemented with two phosphate sources (tricalcium phosphate and rock phosphate) was carried out for all the isolates showing phosphate solubilizing activity. Maximum phosphate solubilizing capacity was shown by three isolates of A. niger while A. clavatus showed minimum activity. Genomic DNA was extracted from sixteen isolates showing high activity and PCR amplification of DNA from nine isolates was done.