Phosphate solubilization by fungi with nematicidal potential

Abstract

We evaluated the nematicidal potential and phosphate solubilization ability of the fungal species Geomyces pannorum and Paecilomyces carneus, which are associated with the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis. In a broth medium containing calcium phosphate, the two fungi solubilized between 67%-96% of the insoluble phosphorus that was present in the medium, and in a broth medium containing iron phosphate, the phosphorus that was solubilized by the two fungi ranged between 2%-13%. In a greenhouse experiment, G. pannorum and P. carneus were applied to soil that was naturally infested with G. rostochiensis and planted with Avena sativa. The fungi increased the available phosphorus in the soil by more than 30%, and Paecilomyces carneus also reduced the nematode population by 71%. This study is the first to report on the ability of G. pannorum and P. carneus to increase the available phosphorus in the soil, suggesting that these fungal species may have potential uses in agricultural soils with insoluble phosphorus. Moreover, this study provides a new alternative that contributes to the sustainable management of crops with bio-agents that have dual activity; they increase the available phosphorus in the soil and mitigate plant parasitic nematodes.