Journal of
Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development

  • Abbreviation: J. Agric. Biotech. Sustain. Dev.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2340
  • DOI: 10.5897/JABSD
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 144

Article in Press

Review on Phosphate Solubilizing Fungi and Its Inoculation to Seeds

Chala Dandessa

  •  Received: 22 March 2019
  •  Accepted: 22 March 2019
Phosphorous is one of the most vital nutrients for plant development. It increases the strength of cereal straw in plants, stimulates flower formation and fruit production, as well as stimulates root development and it’s needed for seed development. Owing to their high retention in soil, movement of phosphate ions in the soil is very little. In this regard, the supply of P through biological systems is considered a practicable substitute, and inoculation of Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms, particularly fungi to soil, is a consistent source to increase soluble P in soil. Though phosphorus is found to be a restraining factor in many soils, application of PSMs as biofertilizers or bioconverters for solubilizing fixed phosphorus has not been practiced effectively. Many fungal species can solubilize rock phosphate, aluminum phosphate and tricalcium phosphate.Yeast belonging to genus Saccharomyces, Hansenula, Klockera, Rhodotorula and Debaryomyces spp. were phosphate solubilizing yeasts. For application of phosphate solubilizing fungi to seeds, the surface of seeds should be sterilized, cleaned with sterile water and dried out. The surface disinfected seeds can be coated by way of soaking seeds in liquid culture medium of phosphate solubilizing fungi for 2 hr; while inoculation of the seed using plant and both Aspergillus niger + Penicillium notatum is recommended. Consequently, the application of P solubilizing fungi is commended as a workable way to increase crop yield.