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.