Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the phosphate-solubilizing characteristics and growth promoting effect of Aspergillus neoniger (JXBR16) from rhizosphere soil of Phyllostachys edulis.

Method The phosphate-solubilizing ability of strain JXBR16 on five different types of mineral phosphate, including Ca₃(PO₄)₂, CaHPO₄, FePO₄, AlPO₄ and calcium phytate, were compared and the effects of carbon sources, nitrogen sources, initial pH, liquid filling volume, temperature and salt ions on phosphate solubilizing ability of strain JXBR16 were studied using the liquid fermentation experiment. Also, the effects of strain JXBR16 on nutrient acquirement and growth of Ph. edulis were evaluated using pot experiment.

Result The strain JXBR16 showed the greatest ability to solubilize FePO₄ and CaHPO₄ with 3 208.31 and 3 027.09 mg·L^-1, respectively. The strain JXBR16 displayed the highest phosphate-dissolving capacity when the initial pH reached 3.5, the volume of liquid was 2/5, the temperature was 25℃, the NaCl concentration was 0.01.0 g·L^-1, sugar and yeast powder were used as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Meanwhile, compared with control, the rhizosphere soil available phosphorus, mineral nitrogen, root, stem, and leaf phosphorus contents increased by 37%, 41%, 95%, 102% and 43%, respectively in Ph. edulis seedling inoculated with strain JXBR16 for 180-days. In addition, the ground diameter, seedling height and biomass accumulation were higher by 44.44%, 47.27% and 50.40%, respectively in strain JXBR16 treatment than control.

Conclusion A. neoniger can effectively enhance soil phosphorus supply, promote nutrient uptake and utilization, and improve the growth of Ph. edulis in red soil region. It has great potential to be used in development of biological fertilizer for bamboo forests in southern China.