Methods and compositions for increasing the amounts of phosphorus available for plant uptake from soils
The present invention relates to a method of enhancing growth conditions for plants by growing the plants in soil containing, in proximity to the plant roots, both a phosphorus source and at least two strains of the fungus Penicillium , particularly P. bilaiae , more particularly strains NRRL 50162 and NRRL 50169.
1. A method comprising applying a dry inoculum comprising talc and at least two strains of Penicillium bilaiae to plant seed, wherein application of said plant seed into a soil increases the amount of phosphorous available for plant uptake as compared to introduction of a control seed treated with a control inoculum comprising talc and only one of the at least two strains of Penicillium bilaiae.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said inoculum comprises spores of Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50162.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said inoculum comprises spores of Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50169.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said inoculum comprises spores of Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50170.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said inoculum comprises spores of Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50162 and Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50169.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said inoculum is applied to said seed in an amount ranging from 1×10 2 to 1×10 6 colony forming units of Penicillium bilaiae per seed.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is leguminous.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is selected from the group consisting of alfalfa, bean, chickpea, lentil, pea, peanut, and soybean seed.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is non-leguminous.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said plant seed is selected from the group consisting of barley, corn, oat, rye, sorghum, and wheat seed.
11. Plant seed coated with a dry inoculum comprising talc and at least two strains of Penicillium bilaiae wherein application of said plant seed into a soil increases the amount of phosphorous available for plant uptake as compared to introduction of a control seed treated with a control inoculum comprising talc and only one of the at least two strains of Penicillium bilaiae.
12. The plant seed of claim 11 , wherein said inoculum comprises spores of Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50162.
13. The plant seed of claim 11 , wherein said inoculum comprises spores of Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50169.
14. The plant seed of claim 11 , wherein said inoculum comprises spores of Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50170.
15. The plant seed of claim 11 , wherein said inoculum comprises spores of Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50162 and Penicillium bilaiae NRRL 50169.
16. The plant seed of claim 11 , wherein said plant seed is leguminous.
17. The plant seed of claim 11 , wherein said plant seed is selected from the group consisting of alfalfa, bean, chickpea, lentil, pea, peanut, and soybean seed.
18. The plant seed of claim 11 , wherein said plant seed is non-leguminous.
19. The plant seed of claim 11 , wherein said plant seed is selected from the group consisting of barley, corn, oat, rye, sorghum, and wheat seed.
20. A method comprising introducing the plant seed of claim 11 into a plant growth medium.