Abstract:
A fungal strain, capable of solubilizing insoluble phosphate under diverse temperature, pH and salt conditions
was isolated from Waste Mushroom bed of Agaricus bisporus in South Korea. Based on 18S rRNA analysis,
the strain was identified as Aspergillus awamori bxq33110. The strain showed maximum phosphate
solubilization in AYG medium (525 µg mL-1) followed by NBRIP medium (515 µg mL-1). The strain
solubilized Ca3(PO4)2 to a greater extent and rock phosphate and FePO4 to a certain extent. However AlPO4
solubilizing ability of the strain was found to be very low. Glucose at the rate of 2% (561µg mL-1) was found
be the best carbon source for Aspergillus awamori bxq33110 to solubilize maximum amount of phosphate.
However, no significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in phosphorus solubilization was found between 1% and 2%
glucose concentrations. (NH4)2SO4 was the best nitrogen source for Aspergillus awamori bxq33110 followed
by NH4Cl and NH4NO3. At pH 7, temperature 30℃ and 5% salt concentration (674 µg mL-1) were found to be
the optimal conditions for insoluble phosphate solubilization. However, strain Aspergillus awamori bxq33110
was shown to have the ability to solublize phosphate under different stress conditions at 30-40℃ temperature,
pH 7-10 and 0-10% salt concentrations indicating it’s potential to be used as bio-inoculants in different
environmental conditions.