African Journal of
Environmental Science and Technology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0786
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJEST
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 1128

Full Length Research Paper

Survey of bacterial pathogens on leaves and seeds of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)

Ukoima, H. N.1*, Wemedo, S. A.2 and Ekpirikpo, A. O.1
  1Department of Forestry and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, P. M. B. 5080, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. 2Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, P. M. B. 5080, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 14 May 2009
  •  Published: 30 May 2009

Abstract

 

Bacterial pathogens of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) were investigated. 50 samples each of leaves and seeds (healthy and diseased) were randomly collected and used for the analysis. Mean bacterial counts obtained were: healthy and diseased leaves; 8.26 x 103 and 5.9 l x l0cfu/ml respectively; healthy seeds 7.96 x l0cfu/ml and diseased seeds 1.1 4x 10cfu/ml. The bacterial populations of the healthy and diseased leaves and seeds showed no significant difference at P > 0.05 (F – cal = 4.69; F – tab = 4.76). Nine bacterial genera isolated includeAcinetobacter (7.69%), Aerococcus and Alcaligenes (3.84%), Bacillus (19.23%),Corynebacterium (34.61%), Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas (3.84%),Staphylococcus (7.69%) and Streptomyces (15.38%). Corynebacterium had the highest percentage occurrence and was isolated from both healthy and diseased samples. Some of the bacterial species such Corynebacterium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas are known pathogens of plants and were implicated as pathogens of red mangrove.  

 

Key words: Bacterial pathogens, red mangrove, diseased leaves, healthy leaves.