Abstract
In the most recent scientific reports based on the DNA or RNA-analyses a widespread presence of the filamentous fungi, Mortierella in various environments has been shown. Some strains of this genus belong to the plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) and are found in the bulk soil, rhizosphere and plants tissues. These microorganisms are also often found in the extremely hostile environments, responsible for improving access to the bioavailable forms of P and Fe in the soils, the synthesis of phytohormones and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, and last but not least the protection of agricultural plants from pathogens. Furthermore, earlier reports classified Mortierella spp. as the saprotrophic microorganisms isolated from the forest litter, and nowadays their status as a very valuable decomposers in the agricultural soils was confirmed. The key features like the ability to survive under very unfavorable environmental conditions and the utilization of carbon sources contained in polymers like cellulose, hemicellulose, chitin make these fungi efficient as the agricultural inoculants. The growing interest in the application of Mortierella spp. is mainly due to the potential use of this genus in the increase of the nutrient uptake efficiency, positive effect in crop protection against adverse conditions, and reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides applied. Moreover, activities of Mortierella species selected from the wild or cultivated plants influence the soil microbiota and support the performance of the beneficial microorganisms enhancing significantly crop yield.
Highlights
Soils are very diverse systems consisting of various types of organic and inorganic components
The development and availability of the new methods of identification of microorganisms within the last 20 years led to the detection of plant growth-promoting Mortierella species in the soils all over the world
The present paper is focused on the plant growth-promoting abilities and the other properties of Mortierella species which seem to be helpful in enhancing plant development in agricultural applications
Summary
Soils are very diverse systems consisting of various types of organic and inorganic components. The development and availability of the new methods of identification of microorganisms within the last 20 years led to the detection of plant growth-promoting Mortierella species in the soils all over the world. The Mortierella omnipresence may be confirmed by in the environment the effects of 35-year application of an organic fertilizer to the agricultural soil in China (Anhui Province) in order to promote plant growth. After incubation at 5–10 ◦C, these fungi are known as forming sporangia on the nutrient-poor media [21], such as water agar [11] To these results, Mortierella antarctica investigated by Ozimek et al [8] failed sporulation on this medium (water agar) at low temperatures and the genetic analysis was required to confirm the species affiliation.
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