Effect of inoculation with Penicillium albidum, a phosphate‐solubilizing fungus, on the growth of Trifolium pratense cropped in a volcanic soil

Abstract

Volcanic soils in the south of Chile have an elevated quantity of total P, which is scarcely available due to its high P fixation capacity. One strategy for increasing the availability of P for the vegetables that grow there would be to use phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms. In one assay conducted in a greenhouse on a volcanic soil, the effect of inoculation with Penicillium albidum, a phosphate-solubilizing fungus, was studied on the growth of red clover (Trifolium pratense L). Some chemical and biological properties of the soil were also evaluated. There were three treatments: a) active inoculum [In(+)], b) inactive inoculum (autoclaved) [In(-)] and c) without inoculum [In(0)], each one done in three replicates. The In(+) significantly (P < 0.050) increased the growth of the plants, contributing particularly to root development. The P mobilized to the shoot with In(+) was higher than twofold related to In(0) and In(-) treatments; however, the In(+) plants had similar concentration of shoot P. In the soil, available-P was not statistically different (P < 0.050) among the treatments but phosphatase activity in In(+) was higher (P < 0.050) in comparison to In(0). The results suggest that Penicillium albidum contributed to growth and nutrition of the red clover through the induction of root development and enhancing phosphate mobilization from the soil and into the plant. It is concluded that Penicillium albidum, under greenhouse conditions, in soils deficient in available P can increase the inoculation potential for volcanic soils in Chile. Anyway further studies are required, especially in organic farming where the use of soluble P fertilizer is avoided.

Phosphorus Availability in Wheat, in Volcanic Soils Inoculated with Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacillus thuringiensis

“…Phosphatases catalyze the hydrolysis of organic P-compounds, such as esters and anhydrides of orthophosphoric acid, and do not solubilize rock phosphates [17]. This enzyme is important in soil, in particular for the Andisols, where the P is limiting for vegetable development, and our results agrees with those obtained by other authors in previous studies [38,39]. This can be attributed to the increase in microbial biomass activity in the inoculated soil.…”

“…A study conducted by Morales et al [38] in an Ultisol soil showed that inoculation with Penicillum albidum significantly affects P in both plant and roots. In addition, Turan et al [39] reported increases in P in plant tissues inoculated with Bacillus magaterium.…”

Phosphate solubilization by fungi with nematicidal potential

“…In our study, the increase in available P in the soil with the application of G. pannorum and P. carneus were comparable to those obtained with the fungal strains currently used in organic fertilizers (Morales et al, 2007;Mittal et al, 2008;Kaewchai et al, 2009), making them good candidates for field-level testing.…”

Interactions between native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphate solubilizing fungi and their effect to improve plant development and fruit production by Capsicum annuum L.

“…as the more often described genera (Silva Filho et al, 2002;Morales et al, 2007). Inoculation with phosphatesolubilizing fungi enhanced plant growth and increased P uptake by the plants, both under greenhouse and field conditions (Asea et al, 1988;Whitelaw, 2000;Wakelin et al, 2004;Morales et al, 2007).…”

“…With regard to those microorganisms able to release available P from sparingly soluble P-sources most published information refers to bacteria, but there are several reports concerning fungi (Morales et al, 2007;Barroso and Nahas, 2007), with Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. as the more often described genera (Silva Filho et al, 2002;Morales et al, 2007).…”