BIOCONTROL ACTIVITY OF PHOSPHATESOLUBILIZING FUNGIISOLATED FROM RHIZOSPHERE SOIL OF MARATHWADA, INDIA

Abstract

The phosphate solubility and biocontrol activity of fungi isolated from rhizosphere soil of Marathwada were studied in the present study. Fungi were isolated from rhizosphere soil and all the 11 fungal isolates showed good phosphate solubilizing ability. The potent phosphate solubilising isolates Aspergillus niger (PQ9), Trichodermaspp (PQ36) and Penicillium spp (PQ19) showed significant zone of solubilization with 34, 31 to 30 mm respectively after 48 hours of incubation. All potent phosphate solubilising fungal isolates were tested for in vitro antagonistic activity against bacterial plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizopus oryzae and Macrophomina phaseolina. The study therefore proposed that these fungal species have strong phosphate solubilizing properties and the isolated fungal strains in present investigation indicates broad spectrum activity against tested fungal phytopathogen. Therefore, the fungal species can be used for excellent crop productivity as a biofertilizer and as biocontrol agent.