In: Sydowia 75, (2023): 103-109; ISSN 0082-0598, DOI 10.12905/0380.sydowia75-2022-0103 Published online on November 29, 2022

Significance of root endophytic aquatic hyphomycetes in
phosphate solubilisation

Suresh Chandra Sati, Prabha Pant & Nikolay Vassilev

Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital - 263001, India
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada -18071, Spain

e-mail: pantprabha93@gmail.com

Sati S.C., Pant P. & Vassilev N. (2022) Significance of root endophytic aquatic hyphomycetes in phosphate solubilisation. –
Sydowia 75: 103–109.
Phosphate solubilizing microbes play an important role to increase the availability of soil phosphate for plants. In the present
work isolation, screening and evaluation of the phosphate solubilization capacity of root endophytic aquatic hyphomycetes employing
Pikovskaya’s (PVK) agar and broth media were carried out. Phosphate solubilizing potential on PVK agar was assessed
by determining solubilization index (SI) while PVK broth was used to quantify solubilized phosphate through spectrophotometric
analysis. All the used isolates of aquatic hyphomycetes showed a clear halo zone around the growing fungal colony in the PVK
agar medium. In PVK broth, a decrease in pH and increased mycelial weight indicate their capability to grow and solubilize the
phosphate. Helicomyces torquatus was found more potent (SI-1.60 and 3.57 mg/l) compared to Campylospora parvula (SI-1.40
and 3.36 mg/l), Tetracladium marchalianum (SI-1.25 and 2.91 mg/l) and Lemonniera pseudofloscula (SI- 1.12 and 2.28 mg/l). The
present study indicates that the root endophytic aquatic hyphomycetes are very active phosphate solubilizers and can be used as
bio-fertilizers in agriculture.

Keywords: microbial phosphate solubilization, halo zone, bio fertilizer.