Screening of Fungal Rot Isolates from Cocoa as Phosphate-Dissolving and their Growth Ability on Three Types of Media

Abstract

This paper discuss about the potential of fungal rot isolates as phosphate-dissolving fungi and their vegetative growth ability on three solid media. All fungal rot isolates were collected from decayed cocoa plants in Bila Village, Pitu Riase, Sidrap District, South Sulawesi. The potential to dissolve phosphate was examined on Pikovskaya broth media and measured using spectrophotometer. The Vegetative ability to grow on solid media was tested on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Malt Pepton Agar (MPA), and Malt Extract Agar (MEA). The results showed that the highest quantitative ability to dissolve phosphate was observed on fungal rot isolate BPB, followed by JT, BPG, and BPE1 isolates. MPA medium supported the best mycelial growth compared with others media.