Plant growth promoting fungus (PGPF) isolated from rhizosphere of sugarcane and identified as Penicillium citrinum

Thom was tested for its phosphate solubilizing ability on four carbon sources viz. Glucose, Sucrose, Fructose and

Mannitol, at varying range of pH in vitro condition. Among the carbon sources, in Glucose carbon source fungi was found

to be solubilized maximum tricalcium phosphate (461μg/ml) at pH-8 while, minimum activity (421 μg/ml) as phosphate

solubilization by the isolated fungal strain of P. citrinum Thom was found in Sucrose at pH-6.

Key Words: Plant growth promoting fungus, Penicillium citrinum, Rhizosphere, Tricalcium phosphate