BIODIVERSITY OF RHIZOSPHERE MICROORGANISMS OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTSS. TAMILRASI AND P. LAKSHMANAPERUMALSAMYAbstract The rhizosphere microorganisms such as bacteria, actinomvcetes and fungus associated with 15 different medicinal plants were enumerated. The total he terotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi were greater in the rhizosphere soil than in the non-rhizosphere soils of all selected medicinal plants. Bacillus was found to be predominant followed by Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Corynebacterhun and Serratia. Among the fungal isolates, Aspergillus was found to be dominant followed by Penicillium and Alternaria. Ninety percent of the bacterial isolates were nitrate reducers and 11.5% were phosphate solubilisers. About 92.3% of the bacterial isolates were able to tolerate heavy metals like copper, nickel, lead and chromium. Though some of the actinomycetes exhibited a range of antagonistic activity against specific human pathogens like Aeromonas livdrophila, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus alums, Escherichia coli and Vilirio cholerae, they were in synergistic relationship with heterotrophs. These isolates can be recognized as ideal bioinoculant and will be of greater importance for the production of potent bioactive compounds.
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