Screening and application of phosphate-dissolving microorganism suitable for corn production

Abstract:

Abstract: [Objective] To obtain phosphate-dissolving strains which can be suitable for corn production. [Methods] We screened phosphate-dissolving strains from soil samples. We conducted the plate experiment and soil experiment in laboratory, pot experiment in greenhouse and field experiment to test the insoluble phosphate dissolving ability of the strains. [Results] Fifteen strains of phosphate-dissolving fungi were isolated from soil samples, including 9 Penicillium oxalicum, 2 Penicillium variabile, 1 Penicillium aculeatum, 1 Trichoderma viride, 1 Aspergillus niger, and 1 Aspergillus nidulans. The 15 strains could obviously drop the pH in culture media. Five strains (Z15+、ZQ3、ZI1、Zh and Z30) reduced the pH value from 7.0 to below 2.0 in 18 h. The plate experiment and soil experiment in laboratory indicated that these 5 strains could propagate in plates and soil by using the root secretion of corn as sole carbon source. The pot experiment inoculating with the 5 strains was conducted in greenhouse by planting corn. The result demonstrated that the content of available phosphorous was increased remarkably with strains ZI1 and Zh. The content of available phosphorous at 49th day increased 28.05% and 37.04%, respectively, than initial content in strains ZI1 and Zh treatment. The dry matter yield of corn significantly increased 26.04% and 20.21% than the control, respectively. Then strains ZI1 and Zh were used in field experiment as microbial inoculums. The yield of corn treated with strain Zh increased 13.22% than that of the control, reaching 10873.05 kg/ha. However, the yield of corn treated with strain ZI1 presented no significant difference with the control. [Conclusion] The phosphate－dissolving strain Zh obtained in this experiment was identified as Aspergillus nidulans ,which is suitable for corn production.