Penicillium bilaiae is a soilborne fungus able to solubilize mineral phosphates and enhance plant uptake of phosphate. Hence, it’s used to promote soil-bound phosphorous uptake in several crop species, such as wheat, canola and pulse crops. In the literature, it has also been referred to as Penicillium bilaii or Penicillium bilaji. An older name for this species is Penicillium lilacinoechinulatum. Although Penicillium bilaiae is widely distributed in soil it’s not commonly isolated.
The species name bilaiae was derived from Bilai, the Russian scientist (B. Bilai) after whom it was named.
