ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2011
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2011 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Growth and IN VITRO phosphate solubilising ability of SCLERODERMA SINNAMARIENSE: A tropical mycorrhiza fungus isolated from GNETUM AFRICANUM ectomycorrhiza root tips
Eneke Esoeyang Tambe Bechem
Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P. O. Box 63 Buea, Cameroon. E. mail: [email protected]. Tel: 237 77 35 85 23.
Accepted 9 March, 2011
Abstract
The growth and ability of SCLERODERMA SINNAMARIENSE isolated from GNETUM AFRICANUM ectomycorrhiza root tips to solubilise calcium tetrahydrogen diorthophosphate, calcium phytate, hydroxyapatite and amorphous iron phosphate was assessed in axenic culture under a range of conditions. S. SINNAMARIENSE grew on all P sources when NH4+ was sole nitrogen source, but failed to grow on amorphous iron phosphate in unbuffered media with peptone as sole nitrogen source. The fungus solubilised calcium tetrahydrogen diorthophosphate and hydroxyapatite in unbuffered media with NH4+ as nitrogen source. The internal phosphorus status of the mycelia had no influence on the ability of the fungus to solubilise the substrates. The data confirmed that mycorrhizal fungi can access P sources which are normally unavailable and may pass on the absorbed P to the plant partner in case of symbiosis.
Key words: Phosphorus solubilisation, Scleroderma sinnamariense, mycorrhiza fungus.