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Immobilization-Based Bio-formulation of Aspergillus awamori S29 and Evaluation of Its Shelf Life and Re-usability in the Soil–Plant Experiment

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Abstract

The present study was an attempt to evaluate the bio-formulations of phosphate-solubilizing fungus Aspergillus awamori S29 using two economically viable carriers (calcium alginate and agar) in repeated batch fermentation. Further, the viable cell count under storage and response of these stored bio-formulations on the growth of wheat plants were studied at the end of 2, 4, and 6 months of incubation. Also, the response of these formulations in next season on pearl millet (bajra) was studied without further inoculation. In repeated batch fermentation assay, immobilized form performed significantly better than free form. The viability of fungal inoculant was 88.2% in calcium alginate-based bio-formulation after six months of storage. These bio-formulations showed not only a statistically significant increase in the growth of wheat crop in first season but also of pearl millet in next season. This work strengthens the re-usability potential of immobilized bio-formulations for next season crop.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to the Vice-Chancellor of the Banasthali University for providing the facilities to carry out the work.

Funding

This work was funded by the University Grant Commission (UGC), India and Department of Science and Technology (DST) India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz-Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Rachana Jain, Satyanarayan Naik & Vivek Kumar

  2. Department of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Banasthali University, Tonk, Rajasthan, 304022, India

    Rachana Jain, Anumegha Gupta, Vinay Sharma & Jyoti Saxena

  3. Amity Institute of Biotechnology (AIB) Amity University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303002, India

    Vinay Sharma

  4. Biochemical Engineering Department, B.T, Kumaon Institute of Technology, Dwarahat, Uttarakhand, 263653, India

    Jyoti Saxena

  5. Department of Botany, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar, 845401, India

    Ram Prasad

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  1. Rachana Jain
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  2. Anumegha Gupta
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Contributions

RJ was PI of the project and performed lab work, writing, and statistical analysis; AG did all the experimental work; VS contributed to conceptualization; S.N. Naik contributed to reviewing and editing of the manuscript; JS contributed to writing and editing of the manuscript, RP contributed to review and editing of manuscript; VK contributed to revision and editing of manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jyoti Saxena or Ram Prasad.

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Jain, R., Gupta, A., Sharma, V. et al. Immobilization-Based Bio-formulation of Aspergillus awamori S29 and Evaluation of Its Shelf Life and Re-usability in the Soil–Plant Experiment. Curr Microbiol 79, 163 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-022-02854-0

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