Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Abstract

Phenotypic and Phylogenetic Analyses of Residual Bacteria in Effective Microorganism-Fermented Cucurbitacin Phytonematicide

Phatu W. Mashela* and Kgabo M. Pofu

Information on residual bacteria that keep cucurbitacin phytonematicides aseptic for extended periods is not available. At 35 weeks after initiating fermentation, samples were collected from Nemafric-BL phytonematicide, with the cultured strain subjected to various phenotypic and phylogenetic tests. Phenotypic tests characterized the test residual bacteria as Gram-positive Lactobacillus strain, with energy-efficient homolactic fermentative process, but without CO₂ as an end-product. Phylogenetic analysis using ZymoBIOMICSTM DNA Miniprep Kit for Gram- positive bacteria, with subsequent PCR and GenBank analyses resulted in 16S rRNA gene sequences that clustered the residual Lactobacillus strain with the Spanish HG794492 (acc. no.) Lactobacillus strain, AY681132 Lactobacillus vini and AB242320 Lactobacillus mobilis, with 75% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. In conclusion, findings in the study provided important operational information that was previously unknown about the residual bacterial strain in cucurbitacin phytonematicides.

Published Date: 2022-05-16; Received Date: 2022-04-13