Effects of Penicillium bilaii on maize growth are mediated by available phosphorus

B. Gómez-Muñoz, L. S. Jensen, A. de Neergaard, A. E. Richardson, J. Magid*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and aims: Inoculation with Penicillium bilaii has been reported to increase plant growth, which is attributed to increase availability of phosphorus (P), but similar effects have been observed with no P limitation, suggesting that other mechanisms may be involved. The aim of this work was to evaluate the interaction between available soil P and P. bilaii inoculation on plant growth. Methods: Maize plants (Zea mays) inoculated with P. bilaii and non-inoculated were grown in pot experiments in three soils with different inherent P availability, and in a low P availability soil with different additions of mineral P, both with and without supplementation of all other macro and micronutrients. Results: We found a positive interaction between P bilaii and available P, when other nutrients were applied, with P bilaii inoculation resulting in increased root growth and thus nutrient uptake and plant growth. By contrast, when other nutrients were not supplied, little effect on plant growth or P uptake was observed, except for root length that tended to decrease in inoculated plants with P addition. Conclusions: The effects of P. bilaii inoculation were related to root growth and function, but were dependent on the nutrient status in the soil environment.

Original languageEnglish
JournalPlant and Soil
Volume431
Issue number1-2
Pages (from-to)159-173
Number of pages15
ISSN0032-079X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • Penicillium bilaii
  • Phosphorus availability
  • Phosphorus-solubilising microorganisms
  • Plant growth promotion
  • Root length

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