Can dark septate endophytic fungi (DSE) mobilize selectively inorganic soil phosphorus thereby promoting sorghum growth? A preliminary study.

Phosphate fertilizers tend to precipitate with soil components, affecting fertilization efficiency and causing negative environmental effects. Soil microorganisms have been used to solve this problem. However, the ability of dark septate endophytic fungi (DSE) to dissolve phosphates and increase crop yield are not well known. The activity of DSE fungi capable of solubilizing reagent grade phosphates was studied in a Typic Hapludoll (Hapludol típico). The effect of the fungi on the inorganic phosphorus fractions was evaluated and an experiment was conducted in pots with sorghum as a crop. No fungal structures were found in the roots. Curvularia sp. aerial biomass and root length increased; however, P concentration was not affected. Although the results are not conclusive, they represent an advance in the potential use of DSE fungi as P solubilizers to treat crop nutrition.