Plant Growth-promoting Rhizobacteria and Rhizofungi of Calopogonium mucunoides in the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

Aims: This study aims at isolating/enumerating microorganisms present in the plant root environment of Calopogonium mucunoides and to examine the biodiversity of rhizosphere/rhizoplane flora in different soil samples of the legume. Methodology and Results: The composition of microbial communities associated with the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of Calopogonium mucunoides in the University of Calabar area was evaluated using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. The results showed that the total heterotrophic bacterial load (THBL) at the root of Calopogonium muconoides plant sampled from the University of Calabar Botanical Garden, the University of Calabar Staff Quarters and Faculty of Biological Science Garden were: 80.00±0.82x104cfug-1, 55.67±1.25 x104cfug-1 and 90.33±1.25 x104cfug-1 respectively. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the total heterotrophic bacterial load (THBL) at the rhizosphere of the Calopogonium mucunoides plant. While the total rhizosphere fungal loads were 24.00+1.63x103cfug-1, 24.00+2.16x103cfug-1, and 18.00+2.88x103cfug-1 for Calopogonium mucunoides plant sampled from University of Calabar Botanical garden, University of Calabar staff Quarters and the Faculty of Biological Science garden respectively. There was a substantial alteration (p < 0.05) in the total rhizosphere fungal amounts in Calopogonium muconoides plants sampled from the University of Calabar. The bacterial group at the rhizosphere of the Calopogonium mucunoides plant was: Bacillus spp. Streptococcus spp., Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter spp and Enterobacter spp. while the rhizosphere fungal group was: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Mucor spp., Penicillium spp, and Rhizopus spp. Conclusion, Significance and Impact of Study: The microorganisms seen in the rhizosphere of the plant could be used for both microbiological and biotechnological research at the University.