Characterizations of Enset Rhizosphere Microbes for their Application in Bio-control of Enset Wilt Pathogens

Abstract

Enset is a perennial crop belonging to the family Musaceae that as a staple crop in major Enset growing area as well as significantly contribute to the development of national economy of Ethiopia. But, currently its production is severely declined by wilt causing pathogens. During this study, in vitro antagonism activities of Enset rhizosphere microbes against Enset wilt causing pathogens were determined. Out of 30 Enset rhizosphere samples, 232 isolates were obtained in which 34% exhibited antimicrobial activity with dominance of bacterial isolates in antimicrobial activity 28(34.44%). Furthermore, of 63 rhizosphere microbial isolates showed antimicrobial properties 26 (41.27%) belong to actinomycetes and among Enset rhizosphere fungal isolates, 12 (20.69%) and 13 (40.63%) were antimicrobial producer mold and yeast respectively. Temporally the potential microbial isolates identified to the level of genera bacteria including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, Spirillum, and Enterococcus; Actinomycetes isolates were identified as members of the genera Streptomyces, Nocardia, Micromonospora, and Brevibacterium, while Fungal isolates, including yeasts (Candida, Rhodotorula, Cryptococcus spp) and molds (Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Fusarium spp) were identified. Generally these findings highlight the enset rhizosphere harbor potential microbes with applications in sustainable agriculture and plant health management.