Abstract:
This study was conducted with the aim of isolating and identifying endophytic bacteria associated with
bananas in Kenya and assessing their functional potentiality as biological fertilizers. Banana material
was collected from two different banana cultivars in five different geographical regions and bacteria
were isolated using five different isolation media. Whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization
time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) analysis was used for microorganism profiling.
Protein from the living cells were extracted using the ethanol/formic acid extraction procedure and
intact molecular weights of the ionized proteins directly measured and the pattern of the protein
molecular weights used as fingerprints. Forty three isolates were selected for partial 16S rRNA gene
sequencing. Isolates were characterized on the basis of their in-vitro plant growth-promoting activities
that included abilities to fix free nitrogen, solubilize phosphates and produce siderophores. The
isolates were identified as Serratia, Pseudomonas, Rahnella, Enterobacter, Raoultella, Yokenella,
Bacillus, Klebsiella, Yersinia and Ewingella species. Siderophore production activity was detected with
all the Pseudomonas isolates as determined on blue Chrome Azurol S (CAS) agar plates. Twenty seven
isolates were observed to solubilize phosphates, with Rahnella isolates showing the highest potential
as determined on NBRIP growth medium. All the isolates grew on solid nitrogen-source free medium,
suggesting their ability to fix nitrogen. In conclusion, endophytic bacteria of bananas in Kenya were
isolated and identified, and Rahnella and Pseudomonas isolates proposed as potential microbial
biofertilizers for sustainable banana production in Kenya.
Description:
African Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 6(34), pp. 6414-6422, 6 September, 2012
Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJMR
DOI: 10.5897/AJMR12.1170
ISSN 1996-0808 ©2012 Academic Journals