Inorganic phosphate solubilizing potential of Arthrobotrys conoides and Duddingtonia flagrans, a nematode trapping fungi a potential biocontrol agent

Insufficient nutrient and pest infection are two major predicaments for low crop yield in agriculture. Nematodes, a most infectious parasite pest in plants responsible for major yield loss. Chemical phosphate fertilizer made large reserves of it in soil, but part of it is made available to the plants because of irreversible fixation of it with divalent cation. In the present study, Arthrobotrys conoides (JX979095) and Duddingtonia flagrans (JX979096) a nematode trapping fungi were isolated from the arable soil of Anand district and studied for its phosphate solubilization potential. Among the different P sources, bioleaching of Tricalcium Phosphate (TCP) was found to be more efficient compared to other P salts. Phosphate solubilizing ability was enhanced in presence of D-glucose as compared to other C sources. In case of nitrogen source ammonium sulfate at 0.5 % showed best P solubilization followed by casein, urea and sodium nitrate respectively. Duddingtonia flagrans was showing maximum P solubilization 12.92% in compare to Arthrobotrys conoides which showing 10.32% of 0.5% applied. Fungi showed citric acid and malic acid peak in HPLC profile against standard which may be responsible for the fall in pH and subsequently P solubilization. Thus this study demonstrates that the isolated nematophagous fungi can have dual role, which is as biocontrol of plant parasitic nematodes as well as biofrtilizer when applied in soil. Application of such type of fungi in to field can enhance the soil fertility crop production.