Stress Induced Phosphate Solubilization by Aspergillus awamori bxq33110 Isolated from Waste Mushroom Bed of Agaricus bisporus

Abstract

A fungal strain, capable of solubilizing insoluble phosphate under diverse temperature, pH and salt conditions was isolated from Waste Mushroom bed of Agaricus bisporus in South Korea. Based on 18S rRNA analysis, the strain was identified as Aspergillus awamori bxq33110. The strain showed maximum phosphate solubilization in AYG medium (525 <TEX>${\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$</TEX>) followed by NBRIP medium (515 <TEX>${\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$</TEX>). The strain solubilized <TEX>$Ca_3(PO_4)_2$</TEX> to a greater extent and rock phosphate and <TEX>$FePO_4$</TEX> to a certain extent. However <TEX>$AlPO_4$</TEX> solubilizing ability of the strain was found to be very low. Glucose at the rate of 2% (<TEX>$561{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$</TEX>) was found be the best carbon source for Aspergillus awamori bxq33110 to solubilize maximum amount of phosphate. However, no significant difference (<TEX>$P{\leq}0.05$</TEX>) in phosphorus solubilization was found between 1% and 2% glucose concentrations. <TEX>$(NH_4)_2SO_4$</TEX> was the best nitrogen source for Aspergillus awamori bxq33110 followed by <TEX>$NH_4Cl$</TEX> and <TEX>$NH_4NO_3$</TEX>. At pH 7, temperature <TEX>$30^{\circ}C$</TEX> and 5% salt concentration (674 <TEX>${\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$</TEX>) were found to be the optimal conditions for insoluble phosphate solubilization. However, strain Aspergillus awamori bxq33110 was shown to have the ability to solublize phosphate under different stress conditions at <TEX>$30-40^{\circ}C$</TEX> temperature, pH 7-10 and 0-10% salt concentrations indicating it's potential to be used as bio-inoculants in different environmental conditions.