Solubilization of inorganic phosphate by phosphate solubilizing fungi isolated from oil palm empty fruit bunches of Central Kalimantan

A study that was aimed to isolate and identify phosphate solubilizing fungi from oil palm empty fruit bunches and to assess their ability to solubilize inorganic phosphate sources was conduted using dilution plate methods on Pikovskaya's medium. The isolation of phosphate solubilizing fungi was done by the pouring method on Pikovskaya medium with tri-calcium phosphate [Ca₃(PO₃)₂] as an inorganic phosphate source. Sixteen fungi isolates potential for solubilizing phosphate were found in the oil palm empty fruit bunches. From the sixteen isolates, twelve isolates were included in the genus of Acremonium, Aspergillus, Hymenella, Mucor, and Moniliella. The iisolates of TB1 (Acremonium kiliens), TB7 (Aspergillus oryza), TM1 (Hymenella Fr.), and TM8 (Neosartorya fischeri) were able to increase soluble P by 451%, 400%, 216% and 114%, repectively, at day 5. The four isolates were the efficient phosphate solubilizing fungi that can potentially increase phosphate solubilization in soils.