Plant Growth-promoting Activity of Acremonium strictum MJN1 Isolated from Roots of Panax ginseng

The plant growth-promoting activity of Acremonium strictum MJN1 isolated from roots of Panox ginseng was explored. The myceliaI extract of A. strictum MJN1 enhanced the rice seedling growth by 14.5 and 9.0% in the dried weight of shoots and roots, and the growth of red pepper by 54 and 85% in the top length and the dried weight in pot experiments, respectively. The plant growth-promoting substances in the myceliaI extract of Acremonium strictum MJN1 were identified as D-adenosine and glycerol. Both commercial D-adenosine and glycerol also promoted significantly the rice seedling growth but, unlike the mycelial extract of A. strictum MJN1, hardly affected the yields of plants grown in pots or field. Therefore, it is possible that other plant growth-promoting substances are produced by A. strictum MJN1. However, this study shows that A. strictum MJN1 has a great potential as a biofertilizer.