Phosphate Mobilisation by Soil Microorganisms

Microorganisms are fundamental to the cycling of phosphorus (P) in soil-plant systems as they are involved in a range of processes that govern P transformations and availability. Soil microorganisms in particular are able to release plant available P from otherwise sparingly available forms of soil P, through solubilisation and mineralisation reactions of inorganic and organic P, respectively. The potential of phosphate solubilising microorganisms (PSM) to improve plant P nutrition is widely recognised, and the mechanisms involved are being investigated. The feasibility of developing efficient management systems based on PSM as biofertilisers is of current interest in rhizosphere biotechnology . Mycorrhizosphere interactions involving PSM and their interaction with AM fungi is of further relevance for the acquisition, transport and supply of P to plant roots, and therefore to soil P cycling and plant P nutrition. Managing these interactions (mycorrhizosphere tailoring) provides an environmentally-acceptable agro-technological practice to improve agricultural sustainability.