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Phosphorus-solubilizing fungi improve growth and P nutrition in sorghum at variable salinity levels

Summary

Researchers discovered five types of salt-tolerant fungi that help plants absorb phosphorus even in salty soils. When these fungi were applied to sorghum plants grown in salt-affected soils, the plants grew better and absorbed more phosphorus. The most effective fungus, Penicillium oxalicum, worked by releasing organic acids and other compounds that made phosphorus more available to plants. This discovery offers a promising natural alternative to chemical fertilizers for farming in salt-affected regions.

Background

Salt-tolerant phosphorus solubilizing fungi (PSF) play a pivotal role in plant growth promotion and phosphorus nutrition in saline agro-ecoregions. High salinity negatively affects phosphorus availability and uptake in saline soils, necessitating strategies to improve P nutrition while reducing chemical fertilizer dependence.

Objective

To isolate and characterize salt-tolerant fungi with phosphorus-solubilizing potential and assess their effectiveness in improving sorghum growth and phosphorus nutrition at different soil salinity levels. The study aimed to evaluate whether PSF with inherent salinity tolerance could enhance crop performance under salt-affected soil conditions.

Results

Five best PSF strains were identified: Penicillium oxalicum (PO), Talaromyces islandicus 1 (Tal1), Talaromyces islandicus 2 (Tal2), Penicillium canescens (PC), and Penicillium setosum (PS). PO demonstrated highest salt tolerance and P/Zn solubilization. Fungal inoculated sorghum roots had 3.8-11.0 times greater P-content than uninoculated roots. Siderophore, ammonia, HCN, organic acid and phosphatase secretion explained 46-47% variability in PSF inoculation responsiveness.

Conclusion

Augmenting crop rhizospheres with salt-tolerant PSF having inherent salinity tolerance can improve salinity tolerance and phosphorus nutrition under salt-affected soils. These fungi, particularly Penicillium oxalicum, show potential as biofertilizers for sustainable phosphorus availability in saline agricultural soils, though field validation is required.
  • Published in:Environmental Microbiome,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41024202, DOI: 10.1186/s40793-025-00716-3
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