Production of Phosphatase by Phosphate Solubilizing Improved Fungal Strains

Abstract

Phosphate solubilizing micro-organisms were isolated from rhizosphere soils of rice fields around Mannachanalur area, Tiruchirappali district of Tamilnadu. The isolated fungal cultures were identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium sp. The efficacy of Phosphatase activity of fungal strains was carried out. The fungal strains were subjected to random mutational studies such as UV and chemical mutation. The Phosphatase assay was carried out after random mutagenesis using wild and mutated cultures. The efficacy of Phosphatase activity of the wild strains were observed in the descending order of Aspergillus niger > Penicillium sp. > Aspergillus fumigatus. Among the chemically treated fungal strains, Aspergillus niger (ANsa120) was the predominant fungal strain for Phosphatase activity. The Glucose and Ammonium sulphate were found to be the best carbon and nitrogen source respectively for both phosphate solubilization and phosphatase production. The significance of the findings is discussed herewith in detail.