Study of Bacterial Diversity of Mangroves Rhizosphere

Abstract

Microbial diversity has been an important facet of scientific research, since microbes promise a plethora of biomolecules which are otherwise not found in nature. Microbes are subjected to high level of competition for survival in the environment, and hence develop mechanisms of defense. The biomolecules produced by these microbes as part of their defense or survival mechanism, are of importance for human and animal drugs and many other industrial and environmental applications. The marine counterparts of these terrestrial microbes have yet higher potential, since the marine environment has higher biotic and abiotic stresses, leading to new molecule discovery. In the current study, a bacterial diversity study of the culturable bacteria of the mangrove rhizosphere of Avicennia marina has been undertaken, to understand the flora diversity. Mangroves are unique ecosystems which are under a combination of marine and terrestrial influence. Mangroves are seaward, inland and also found in creek areas. This diversity in their habitat, leads them to produce variable root exudates, which support the growth of different types of organisms. This study has revealed that certain species are dominant in these ecosystems irrespective of the biotic and abiotic stresses, whereas certain species appear only at neutral pH. The study will help select organisms for further biomolecule discovery programs, based on their environment of isolation and other growth parameters.