Isolation of phosphate solubilizing fungi from rhizosphere soil and its effect on seed growth parameters of different crop plants

A total of twenty two rhizospheric fungi were isolated from different healthy crop plants of Hassan, Karnataka, India and tested for its efficacy to solubilize phosphates in PKV medium. Among the isolates, Penicillium sp. RFUOM 14 solubilized phosphates by producing clear halo zone around the colony. Further, Penicillium sp. RFUOM 14 inducers were treated for different crop plants and observed that the treatments enhanced seed germination and seedling vigor. Among the treatments, conidial suspension treated for 6 h showed maximum of 86%, 80% and 83% of seed germination and seedling vigor 985.25, 523 and 673.5 in pearl millet, brinjal and tomato, respectively.