Screening of plant growth promoting attributes and extracelluar hydrolytic enzyme production by soil dwelling fungi 

Abstract

Plant growth promoting (PGP) activities are symbiotic relationship of plant and microorganisms where microbes produce bioactive molecules which help in plant growth, and in return plant gives nutrition and habitat. In the present study, 25 fungal cultures were isolated from agricultural soil. The screening for PGP and extracellular enzyme production revealed two fungal cultures MA2 and TV1 as promising candidates. The fungal isolates were identified by morphological and cultural characteristics. The molecular level identification showed the isolate MA2 as Aspergillus ochraceus and TV1 as Trichoderma yunnanens. The in vitro screening of PGP activity by both the fungal isolates demonstrated positive results for the production of siderophore, ammonia, indole acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid. The isolates were found to be incapable of phosphate solubilization.  The extracellular enzyme production by fungal isolates was carried out on solid media incorporated with specific substrates. The isolates displayed amylase, lipase, protease, cellulase and chitinase production capacity. Therefore, the fungal isolates Aspergillus ochraceus and Trichoderma yunnanens can be explored as potential candidates for the preparation of plant growth promoting and enzyme formulations for agriculture and industrial application.