title: Stimulatory effects of arsenic-tolerant soil fungi on plant growth promotion and soil properties.
abstract: Fifteen fungi were obtained from arsenic-contaminated agricultural fields in West Bengal, India and examined for their arsenic tolerance and removal ability in our previous study. Of these, the four best arsenic-remediating isolates were tested for plant growth promotion effects on rice and pea in the present study. A greenhouse-based pot experiment was conducted using soil inocula of individual fungi. The results indicated a significant (P<0.05) increase in plant growth and improvement of soil properties in inoculated soils compared to the control. A significant increase in plant growth was recorded in treated soils and varied from 16-293%. Soil chemical and enzymatic properties varied from 20-222% and 34-760%, respectively, in inoculated soil. Plants inoculated with inocula of Westerdykella and Trichoderma showed better stimulatory effects on plant growth and soil nutrient availability than Rhizopus and Lasiodiplodia. These fungi improved soil nutrient content and enhanced plant growth. These fungi may be used as bioinoculants for plant growth promotion and improved soil properties in arsenic-contaminated agricultural soils.
authors.affiliation: National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226001 India. drpankajk@gmail.com
authors.forename: Pankaj Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Belle Damodara
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: Manjul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Aradhana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaish
authors.forename: Shivee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mannan
authors.forename: Nandita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Shri Krishna
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tewari
authors.forename: Rudra Deo
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Tripathi
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D007194:India; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology; D018532:Pisum sativum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D012340:RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S / Q000235:genetics; D012233:Rhizopus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012340:RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D001151:Arsenic