Screening of three fungal strain for plant-growth-promoting characteristics: An investigation into phosphate solubilization, IAA production, and siderophore synthesis

Abstract

Phosphate-solubilizing fungus (PSF) makes phosphorus in soils far more available to plants. The goal of this study was to look at a number of soil fungus to see which ones help plants develop better. The focus was on their ability to break down phosphates, make siderophores, and make indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). We used rDNA sequencing of the ITS regions to figure out what kind of fungi they were, and then we tested how well they could make things grow in a lab setting. Aspergillus sydowii, Aspergillus terreus, and Penicillium capsulatum all dissolved phosphates at varying rates. A. terreus dissolved the most tricalcium phosphate (TCP). A. terreus produced the most IAA (17.82 µg/ml), followed by P. capsulatum and A. sydowii. Also, A. terreus produced the most siderophores, which suggests that it may help plants take in more iron. We tested Vigna mungo, Sorghum bicolor, and Glycine max in pots. We employed eleven treatments and three copies of soil that had been sterilized and dirt that had not been sterilized. The plants that got the biofertilizer grew a lot taller, had longer roots, and weighed a lot more when they were wet. It is important to correctly identify species and screen for PSF so that researchers can have a clearer idea of the taxonomic picture when choosing suitable taxa for future plant growth-promoting applications. These results show that these fungal strains, whether employed alone or in combination, have important traits that help plants grow and might be exploited as bioinoculants in sustainable farming.