ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA AND FUNGI RHIZOSPHERES AND SOILS OF MANIHOT ESCULENTA (CASSAVA PLANTS)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Manihot esculenta, popularly known as cassava is one of the most neglected medicinal herbs found all over the world. The aim of this study was to isolate bacteria and fungi associated with rhizospheres and soils of Manihot esculenta. Cassava plant was collected from farmers within Otuoke community. The plant was analyzed by culturing, serial dilution and biochemical tests. Thirteen (13) organisms were isolated namely; Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Xanthomonas spp, Streptococcus spp, Lactobacillus spp, Enterobacter spp, Proteus spp, Escherichia spp, Rhizobium spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp, Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas spp. Nine (9) endophytic fungal species were isolated namely; Scedosporium aurantiacum, Rhizopus, Aspergillus flavus, Microsporum cookei, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida humilis, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Fusarium solani. The prevalence of bacterial strains from roots of cassava revealed that Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Escherichia spp had the highest (12.3%) followed by Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas spp and Rhizobium (9.2%) while Aeromonas, Enterobacter and Streptococcus had the lowest percentage (3.1%). The isolated endophytic bacteria were able to produce amylase and protease. Only Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Xanthomonas, Proteus, S.aureus, and Rhizobium were able to produce lipase while others could not. Xanthomonas, Proteus, Shigella, Salmonella, and Pseudomonas were able to secret cellulase while the other bacterial strains were unable to produce the enzyme. The prevalence of fungal strains from the roots of cassava plants showed that Saccharomyces cerevisae had the highest (26.5%) followed by Rhizopus (17.6%) while Fusarium solani, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes had the lowest percentage (2.9%). The result of the study shows that endophytic bacterial and fungal strains may be related but differs in their morphological, biochemical and enzymatic characteristics. Therefore, there is need to positively apply the understanding gained about endophytic organisms in the development of our world.
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