Phosphorous is one of the major nutrients needed to dry plants and micro organisms for performing in crop fields. The aim of this study was to perform an isolation and screening of native phosphofungi from forest soil and also study the effect phosphofungi on seed germination and seedling vigour (green gram and groundnut seed). The phosphofungi were screened using Pikovskaya’s agar medium with tricalcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) as the phosphorus source. Five promising fungal strains were screened such as Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium sp1 and Penicillium sp2. The soluble phosphorus, phosphate solubilizing activity, titrable acidity, pH and fungal biomass were determined. Aspergillus niger (28±4.6 mm) and Trichoderma viride (22±2.6 mm) showed the more phosphate solubilising index than compared to other fungal isolates. Mineral phosphate solubilizing (MPS) activities of five isolates were tested in tricalcium phosphate medium by analyzing the possible phosphorus release, from 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th day of incubation. Maximum phosphate solubilizing activity was showed by Penicillium sp1 (765±15 µg/ml) and Penicillium chrysogenum (425±14 µg/ml) on 6th and 12th day after incubation. Antagonistic effect of phosphofungi Penicillium chrysogenum (75±10 mm) and Trichoderma viride (60±8.6 mm) showed more effective against Colletotrichum sp than compared to other fungal isolates. Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride and Penicillium chrysogenum showed the more effectiveness on seed germination and seedling vigour for green gram and ground nut seeds. Hence, the potentials of phosphofungi could be effectively exploited in the future for the production of eco-friendly phosphate solubilizing biofertilizer for sustainable agriculture.
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