The Molecular Identification of Isolated Fluoride-resistant Plant Growth-promoting Fungi

Background: This study is about finding plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) that can resist fluoride, which is important for sustainable farming, especially in areas with fluoride contamination. Fluoride is commonly found in water and soil and it can harm plant health and agricultural productivity. Some fungi have developed ways to grow in high-fluoride conditions, helping plants grow and aiding in cleaning up the environment. We focused on identifying useful PGPF from the soil around plant roots, which is known for having many diverse microbes. Method: We tested the successful fungi isolates for their PGPF capabilities by using PCR to amplify the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region, a commonly used technique for identifying different fungal species. After amplifying the DNA, we sequenced the PCR products and analyzed the sequences using the BLAST database to identify the species. Result: Our research identified important fluoride-tolerant PGPF species, including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Penicillium chrysogenum. These fungi showed abilities such as breaking down phosphate, producing growth hormones and stopping pathogens in high fluoride conditions. Adding these PGPF to farming practices has the potential to create strong fungal inoculants that can boost crop growth and productivity in areas affected by fluoride. Overall, this study lays the groundwork for more research and field tests to confirm how these fungi can be used practically, which may help improve sustainable farming and food security.