Impact of phosphate-solubilizing fungi on the yield and phosphorus-uptake by wheat and faba bean plants

Three fungal isolates (phosphate-dissolvers), Aspergillus niger, A. fumigat us and Penicillium pinophilum were isolated from the rhizosphere of differe nt plants grown in Ismailia and South Sinai Governorates. They effectively solubilized rock phosphate or tricalcium phosphate in Pikovskaya's liquid m edium. In pot and column experiments, they significantly reduced pH and inc reased available phosphorus in the soil treated with either rock phosphate or superphosphate. The yield components of wheat and faba bean plants incre ased as a result of soil inoculation with the isolated fungi. Penicillium p inophilum was the most efficient isolate. It increased the yield of wheat g rains by 28.9 and 32.8% in the soil treated with rock phosphate and superph osphate, respectively. Similarly, it increased the production of faba bean seeds by 14.7 and 29.4% with the same treatments. The uptake of phosphorus by both crops significantly increased due to inoculation of the soil with t he tested fungi.