Comparative analysis of the physiochemical characteristics and bacterial communities of healthy and infected root soil of plantain plant

Abstract

The soil surrounding plant root harbors a diverse and dynamic microbial community that plays a crucial role in plant growth, health, and nutrient acquisition. This study was aimed at investigating the physicochemical properties and bacterial communities in healthy and infected root soil of plantain (Musa paradisiaca). The physicochemical properties of the soil samples were analyzed using the standard methods. The bacterial communities of the soil samples were determined by the conventional method and the 16S rRNA metagenomics. Both healthy and infected root soils had a pH of 6.18 and 5.56 respectively, and a temperature of 25.7 and 27.6oC respectively. The textural class of both soils is loamy sand. The particle size of healthy root soil (89.1 mg/kg), electrical conductivity (197 μS/cm), alkalinity (12.94 mg/l), organic matter (25.00 mg/l), nitrogen (1.183mg/l), iron (17.01mg/l), magnesium (0.602 mg/l), clay (68%), coarse sand (2.09%), fine sand (16.47%), air porosity (61.41%), and bulk density (0.803 g/cm3) in healthy root soil were higher than those of infected root soil. Cation exchange capacity (15.88 meq/100g), nitrate (0.731mg/l), phosphate (0.216mg/l), moisture (14.55wt%), potassium (1.094 mg/l), calcium (0.213 mg/l), copper (0.093 mg/l), zinc (0.189 mg/l), manganese (0.017 mg/l), and silt (36.0 mg/l) were higher in infected than healthy root soil. The isolation and characterization of bacteria reveal 48 bacteria isolates from the healthy and infected root soils respectively, while 42 and 41 predominant fungal isolates were obtained from the healthy and infected root soils. All healthy and infected plantain root bacteria were taxonomically identified by amplifying and sequencing the 16S rRNA genes. A total of 33,198 bacterial taxonomic units comprising 6 phyla, 9 classes, 14 orders, 17 families, 15 genera, and 14 species, were generated from healthy root soil. In contrast, a total of 81,524 bacterial taxonomic units which consist of 11 phyla, 12 classes, 19 orders, 24 families, 31 genera, and 42 species, were generated from infected root soil. The analysis revealed significant differences in the composition and diversity of microbial communities between the two soil types, highlighting the potential role of soil microbiota in influencing the development and progression of Fusarium wilt.