Evaluation of rhizosphere bacteria of Mangifera indica (mango) and Terminalia catappa (almond).
Wemedo S. A., Onolleka B.
Author Affiliation: Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, P. M. B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences 3 : 791-794
Abstract : Rhizoshere bacterial population and some physicochemical parameters of mango and almond plants, and a control soil was investigated. Mean data obtained for pH, electrical conductivity (µ$/cm), nitrate (ppm), and available phosphorus (ppm) were: 5.90, 0.29, 11.11, and 43.65 respectively for mango soil; 6.20, 0.37, 29.61 and 60.84 respectively for almond soil; 5.40, 0.43, 46.45 and 104.43 respectively for control soil. The data were within normal ranges that supported bacterial growth. Mango and almond rhizoshere soils were sandy loam, and control soil was loamy. Mean counts of heterotrophic bacteria (X105CFU G-1) were: 11.4 for mango soil, 13.8 for almond soil, and 20.8 for control soil. Control soil had highest bacterial counts when compared to counts of the two rhizoshere soils. Bacterial types isolated occurred in varying frequencies and included: Bacillus (25%), Corynebacterium (15%), Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Micrococcus (10%), Acinetobacter, Arthrobacter, Flavobacterium, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Azomonas (5%). Bacillus occurred in all study soils, Corynebacterium occurred in mango and almond soils, Micrococcus occurred in mango and control soils, while the others occurred in one soil type only. This showed that rhizoshere soils supported the growth of different bacterial types.