Isolation and identification of phosphate (P) solubilizing halophytic fungal endophytes

Abstract

Mangrove endophytes are an essential group of halophytic fungi involved in the solubilization of inorganic phosphate (P) into available organic form of P. In the present study, the diversity of potential Psolubilizing fungal endophytes was studied by using Pikovskaya's media. The highest colonization of endophytic fungi was recorded in Avicennia officinalis. Atotal of 37 fungal taxa representing 15 genera were isolated along with seven sterile non-sporulating isolates. The relative abundance (RA) and isolation frequency (IF) were recorded highest in Aspergillus niger (MEn27) and Scolecobasidium sp. (MEn39). It was observed that Shannon-Weiner (H) and Simpson diversity index (D) was 1.5 and 1, respectively. Fungal isolates showed positive Psolubilizing activity in solid and liquid media. The highest Psolubilization potential was recorded in Drechslera sp. A significant decrease in the pH of the liquid media from 7 (un-inoculated control tubes) to 3.11 was observed. The results indicated the potency of endophytic fungi to solubilize P.