PHOSPHATE SOLUBILIZATION AND PLANT GROWTH PROMOTION BY NATIVE TRICHODERMA ISOLATES UNDER INSOLUBLE PHOSPHATE CONDITION

Phosphorus (P) is an essential but limiting nutrient
in many agricultural soils. Application of phosphorus solubilizing microbes is
promising tool for enhancing P uptake in sustainable agriculture. The aim of
this study was to evaluate the phosphate solubilization potential and growth
promotion of pea (Pisum sativum L.) by
three native Trichoderma isolates viz. TriA, TriB and TriC in medium
containing insoluble phosphate. Phosphate solubilization by Trichoderma
stains was assessed in National Botanical Research Institute's phosphate growth
medium (NBRIP) broth medium. The in vitro indole acetic acid (IAA) produced
by Trichoderma isolates was also estimated. Pea plants were inoculated
by Trichoderma isolates and grown in pot in insoluble phosphate
condition. The fungal strains were able to solubilize phosphate (ranging from 67.56±3.22 to 275.50±3.89 mg/L) in broth at different time periods, decreased
solution pH and produced IAA (77.09±4.89 to 93.58±6.23 μg/mL). The Trichoderma isolate TriC
increased the highest root and shoot growth, leaf number and biomass of pea
plant after 5 weeks of post inoculation followed by isolates TriB and TriA
respectively. The results show that the native Trichoderma isolates have
great potential in the field for phosphorus solubilization and plant growth
promotion.