Journal of Agriculture Biotechnology

Enhancement of maize growth and alteration of the rhizosphere microbial community by phosphate-solubilizing fungus Aspergillus aculeatus P93

Zhongwei Yin, Bingquan Fan, Daniel P. Roberts, Sanfeng Chen, Fachao Shi, Jeffrey S. Buyer, Hongmei Jiang

Abstract


Over-application of phosphatic fertilizers is adversely impacting agricultural sustainability resulting in the need for alternative strategies for plant phosphorus nutrition such as the use of phosphate-solubilizing microbes. The fungus Aspergillus aculeatus P93 excreted organic acids and IAA into Pikovskaya’s broth and solubilized phosphorus from insoluble tricalcium phosphate and rock phosphate in this broth. Treatment of maize seeds with P93 resulted in increased levels of certain organic acids in calcareous soil, increased soil available phosphorus in the non-amended and amended soil, increased total plant phosphorus of maize grown in the non-amended soil, and increased dry plant weight of maize grown in non-amended calcareous soil or this soil amended with rock phosphate relative to the control in greenhouse pot studies. DGGE-based analysis of maize rhizosphere demonstrated alterations in microbial community structure due to the introduction of P93. This plant growth promotion of maize by P93 is likely due, at least in part, to the production of IAA and increased phosphorus availability resulting from the excretion of organic acids into, and the resulting acidification of, this soil. However, consideration must be given to the altered rhizosphere microbial community in this plant growth promotion.

Keywords


calcareous soil, phosphate-solubilizing fungi, plant growth promotion, soil microbial community

Full Text:

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