Abstract
This preliminary comparative study was conducted to assess the impact of herbicides on the microbial communities of plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.). Rhizospheric samples were collected from natural and herbicide polluted soils within the campus of the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Samples were serial diluted where 10-6 and 10-7 were adopted. Microbial populations in both herbicide polluted soil (HP) and Normal Soil (NS) were carefully compared on PDA, MAC and NA media and morphological characteristics differences were carefully analysed. The results revealed clear differences between HP soil and NS. The HP soil sample had a significantly higher overall microbial load and species richness compared to the NS sample. Total culturable bacteria in HP soil made up 43.75% of the isolates while NS soil had 25%. In HP soil, fungi constituted 25% of the isolates while only 6.25% fungi were found in NS soil. key organisms isolated include Cryptococcus spp. and Fusarium spp. (pathogenic) were more in occurrence than other commensal fungi such as Rhizopus spp., Basidiomycetes, Aspergillus spp. where Basidiomycetes which are known decomposers. Bacterial isolates are Micrococcus luteus (mostly abundant) Enterobacter spp, Enterobacter aerogenes, Bacillus spp., Proteus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. While studies have reported a decline in overall microbial presence and diversity after herbicide use due to general toxicity, the increased abundance and richness in the HP soil reflects an ecological trend of selective adaptation as previously reported by a few authors. The study concludes that the use of herbicides as effective weed control, compromises the microbial balance of the plantain's rhizosphere. Thus, herbicide application does not directly destroy the plant microbiome but creates an imbalance that lead to the elimination of organisms which are not tolerant and the subsequent selective promotion of herbicide degrading microorganisms.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Polluted soil had significantly higher microbial load and richness.
Verbatim
e0“The HP soil sample had a significantly higher overall microbial load and species richness compared to the NS sample.”
t0“plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Bacteria were 43.75% of polluted-soil isolates.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Outcome
- Total culturable bacteriae0
- Value
- 43.75%e0
- Setting
- HP soile0
Verbatim
e0“Total culturable bacteria in HP soil made up 43.75% of the isolates while NS soil had 25%.”
t0“plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Bacteria were 25% of natural-soil isolates.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Outcome
- Total culturable bacteriae0
- Value
- 25%e0
- Setting
- NS soile0
Verbatim
e0“Total culturable bacteria in HP soil made up 43.75% of the isolates while NS soil had 25%.”
t0“plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Fungi were 25% of polluted-soil isolates.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Outcome
- fungie0
- Value
- 25%e0
- Setting
- HP soile0
Verbatim
e0“In HP soil, fungi constituted 25% of the isolates while only 6.25% fungi were found in NS soil.”
t0“plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Fungi were 6.25% of natural-soil isolates.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Outcome
- fungie0
- Value
- 6.25%e0
- Setting
- NS soile0
Verbatim
e0“In HP soil, fungi constituted 25% of the isolates while only 6.25% fungi were found in NS soil.”
t0“plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Cryptococcus and Fusarium occurred more than listed commensal fungi.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Interactor
- Cryptococcus spp.e0pathogen
- Outcome
- more in occurrencee0
FusariumOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cryptococcus spp. and Fusarium spp. (pathogenic) were more in occurrence than other commensal fungi such as Rhizopus spp., Basidiomycetes, Aspergillus spp.”
t0“plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Micrococcus luteus was the most abundant bacterial isolate.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Interactor
- Micrococcus luteus
Micrococcus luteuse0other - Outcome
- Micrococcus luteus (mostly abundant)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Bacterial isolates are Micrococcus luteus (mostly abundant) Enterobacter spp, Enterobacter aerogenes, Bacillus spp., Proteus spp. and Pseudomonas spp.”
t0“plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Herbicide use was interpreted to compromise plantain rhizosphere microbial balance.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Treatment
- use of herbicidese0
- Outcome
- microbial balance of the plantain's rhizospheree0
- Direction
- compromisese0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“the use of herbicides as effective weed control, compromises the microbial balance of the plantain's rhizosphere.”
t0“plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.)”