Coconut Research Institute Repository

Flechtmann, C.W.C.

Fernando, L.C.P.

Dolichotetranychus Cocos n.sp. from the perianths of coconuts in Sri Lanka (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Perera, L.

Russell, J.R.

Provan, J.

Powell, W.

Levels of chloroplast DNA variation in coconut is opposite of its levels of nuclear DNA variation

Fernando, W.M.U.

Genetic improvement of the coconut cultivar San Ramon

Giritharan, D.

Somasiri, L.L.W.

Perera, B.S.V.J.

The seasonal changes of exchangeable bases in the manur circle of the coconut palm after application of adult palm mixture

Ranasinghe, C.S.

Wimalasekera, R.

Nainanayake, A.

Simulated sea shipment of tender king coconut; effect of storage conditions on the keeping quality

Fernando, W.P.K.K.

Toddy: authentic or adulterated, how do we know?

Fernando, K.S.K.S.

Tennakoon, N.A.

COCOS (2000-2002),14 6-18
Printed in Sri Lanka
IDENTIFICATION OF SOIL MICROORGANISMS (BACTERIA ANDFUNGI)
IN DIFFERENT COCONUT GROWING SOILS IN SRI LANKA
Fernando", K.S.K.S., Tennakoon ' , N.A. and Widanapathirana2 , S.
1. Coconut Research Institute, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka
2. University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri lanka
ABSTRACT
Bacteria and fungi present in the manure circles (rhizosphere) of twenty
selected soil series in coconut growing areas were studied . Bacilli spp were
the dominant bacteria in all soil series. In addition, Micrococcus,
Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, Serratia, Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas and
Actinomycetes were also identified. Among the fungi Penicillium, Aspergillus
and Curvularia were common in most of the soil series.
INTRODUCTION
In Sri Lanka , coconut is grown in different agro-ecological regions of the main
agro-climatic zones, namely the Dry zone, the Intermediate zone and the Wet
zone. Coconut plantations in the Puttalam , Kurunegala, Colombo, Gampaha
and Kalutara Districts comprise the coconut triangle (Somasiri, et al., 1993).
The performance of coconut depends mainly on physical , chemical and
biological properties of soils such as, moisture availability, rooting depth,
aeration, fertility, organ ic matter content, microbial activity etc. (Somasiri , et
el., 1993). The various biochemical processes associated with nutrient
cycling are mediated by soil enzymes which are derived from microorganisms
and plant roots (Tabatabai, 1982). Bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi are the
organisms most actively involved in the decay of organic materials. The
bacteria are the most numerous and most diverse with each species having
specific functions such as cellulose users, pectin decomposers, protein
decomposers, ammonifiers, nitrifiers etc. There are also bacteria with
different adaptation to various environmental conditions. Therefore
identification of microorganisms is very important in determining the soil
quality. The objective of this study was to identify bacter ia and fungi present
in the different coconut growing soils.
METODS
Site selection
Twenty different coconut growing soils within the coconut triangle were
selected for this study. Three locations were selected in each soil series,
where fertil izer or manure has not been applied at least for the last three
years.
6
The selected soil series, locations, major soil types, agro-ecological regions
and mean annual rainfall (mm) are given in Table 1.
Table 1 Selected soil series, major soil types agro-ecological regions
and rainfall of the studied locations (IL - Intermediate Low
Country, WL - Wet Low Country, DL - Dry Low Country)
Soil series Major soil type Locations Agro- 75% of theecological
expected rainfall
region
Rathupasa Latosols and regosols on Dummaladeniya ILl 1000
old red and yellow sands Mahawewa ILl 1000
Koswadiya ILl 1000
Madampe Latosols and regosols on Tummodara ILl 1000
old red and yellow sands Kirimetiyana ILl 1000
Madampe ILl 1000
Sudu Latosols and regosols on Suduwella IL1 1000
old red and yellow sands Karukkuwa ILl 1000
Maradawella ILl 1000
Wilattawa Colluvial members of red Wannirasnayakapura IL3 750-875
yellow podzolics with soft Mahagama ILl 1000
or hard laterites Mudalakkuliya IL3 750-875
Andigama Red yellow podzolics Mudalakkuliya IL3 750-875
Weerakodiyana ILl 1000
Wadumunnegedara ILl 1000
Boralu Red yellow podzolic with Divulapitiya WL3 <1875 >1500
soft or hard laterites Alabodagama WL3 1500
Bogamuwa WL3 >1500
Ambakelle Alluvial soils Sedawatta DLl 750-875
Arachchi kattuwa ILl 1000-1125
Pottukulama IL3 875-1000
Wariyapola Non calcic brown soils Kobeigane IL3 <875
Awulegama IL3 <875
Wariyapola IL3 <875
Maho Non calcic brown soils Alahena IL3 >875
Wannigama IL3 <875
Wariyapola IL3 >875
Melsiripura Reddish brown latosolic Galwarama ILl >1000
soils Adirillawatta WL2 >1875
Panliyadda DLl >750
Warakapola Red yellow podzolic soils Arangalakanda WL2
Wewaldeniya WL2 1500-1875
Neligama WL2-WL3
7
Soil series Major soil type Locations Agro- 75% of the
ecological
expected rainfall
region
Kurunegala Red yellow podzolic soils Metiyagane IL, 750-875
Yaggapitiya ILl 750-875
Ambanpola DL, <875
Kuliyapit iya Red yellow podzolic soils Amangalla ILl >1000IL,
Metiyagane ILl 750-875
Katupotha 1125>1000
Pallama Colluvial members of red Alabodagama W L3 >1750
yellow podzolic with soft Divulapitiya W L3 <1875>1500
or hard laterites Bogamuwa WL3 >1500
Weliketiya Sandy regosols Karambe DG 500-750
Kadiyamutte DL3 500-750
Marawila ILl 1000
Tambarawa Non calcic brown soils Koorikulama IL3 875-1000
Kadigawa IL3 875- 1000
Welipennagahamula ILl 1000
Kalpitiya Sandy regosols Kurunchipitiya DL3 500-750
Palakudawa DL3 500-750
Nawakkad uwa DL3 500-750
Negombo Sandy regosols Kandatoduwawa DL, 500-875
Karukapana IL, 875-1000
Modarawella ILl 1000
Gamb ura Red latosols Vijayapura DL3 575-750
Bodhirajapura DL3 575-750
Sirambiadiya DL3 575-750
Katunayaka Latosols and regosols Welihena WL, >1500
Ekala WL 4 >1500
Kadirana WL, >1500
Sampling procedure:
Soil samples were taken from the manure circles (within 1.75 m radius from
the base of the palm) . Four samples of soil from 0 - 15 cm were drawn from
four positions of each manure circle and mixed and prepare a composite
sample. Sampled soils were passed through 2 mm sieve and mixed well to
get a composite sample and were stored at 0-4 °C in polythene bags until
isolation of microorganisms.
Isolation of Microorganisms
For the isolation of both fungi and bacteria , first, the Dilution Plate technique
was carried out under asept ic conditions using Potato Dextrose Agar and
Nutrient Agar , respectively (Parkinson, et al., 1971). Colon ies of different
external appearance, from mixed populat ion, were streaked on separate
Nutrient Agar media. Pure cultures were then obtained by re-strea king those
8
colonies several times in same media. Bacterial identification was carried out
using pure cultures obtained from morphologically different bacterial colonies
grown in nutrient agar. Later they were subjected to basic morphological
tests (colony morphology, pigmentation, staining characteristics, shape and
arrangement of cells, motility, presence or absence of spores) and thereafter
bio-chemical characteristics were tested (Cowan and Steel , 1974, Sneath,
1986). Identification of fungi was carried out following the keys and by the
microscopic examinations of the structures (Onions, et al., 1981).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Identification of bacteria
The bacteria identified in different soil series are presented in Table 2.
Different types of bacteria i.e, Bacillus spp, Micrococcus spp, Staphylococcus
sp, Enterobacter sp, Serratia sp, Corynebacterium sp, Pseudomonas sp and
Actinomycetes sp were found . Most of these bacteria are commonly found in
tropical soils. Bacillus spp were the dominant bacteria in all the soil series. In
addition to Bacillus species, Micrococcus luteus, Enterobacter cloacae and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa were also prominent in most of the soil series.
Some of bacteria were specific to some soil series, i.e. Bacillus thuringiensis
was found only in Katunayake soil series; Aerococcus viridans was found in
only Weliketiya soil series; Bacillus pasteurii was found in only Pallama soil
series. A greater number of bacterial species was found in soil series such as
Rathupasa, Kalpitiya, Ambakelle, Boralu , Katunayaka and Melsiripura which
can be considered as fertile or soil series with high nutrient availability.
ldentlflcatlon of fungi
Fungal species identified in different soil series under investigation are shown
in Table 3 and some common fungi species are shown in Plates 1 to 8.
Fungal species such as Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor, Rhizopus, Absedia,
Syncephalastrum, Mortierella, Curvularia, Humicola, Ulocladium, Fusarium
and Trichoderma were present in most of the soil series and Penicillium spp,
Aspergillus spp and Curvularia spp were the most abundant species in the
coconut growing soils. Aspergillus japonicus and Aspergillus niger were found
in all soil series while Penicillium frequentans was the next most common.
9
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Some fungi species present in the soil
Penicillium species
Aspergillus species
12
Rhizopus species
Mortierella species
13
Curvularia species
Humicola species
14
Fusarium species
Trichoderma species
15
Some fungi species were specific to some soil series i.e. Trichoderma sp in
Pallama, Boralu and Melsiripura soil series. Ulocladium sp in Rathupasa and
Madampe soil series; Rhizopus sp in Rathupasa, Kurunegala and Melsiripura
soil series; Penicillium citreonigrum in Rathupasa and Katunayaka soil series;
Penicillium oxalicum in Negombo , Warakapola and Pallama soil series;
Aspergillus terreus in Weliketiya and Wariyapola soil series ; Fusarium
moniliforme in Wariyapola and Thambarawa soil series; Aspergillus
ochraceus in Weliketiya and Gambura soil series.
More fungal species were found in Rathupasa, Madampe and Ambakelle soil
series which can be considered as fertile soils or having more available
nutrients than the other soil series.
Soil microorganisms are of critical importance in nutrient cycling processes ,
and also as sources and sinks of plant nutrients. Bacteria are the most
prominent among the soil microbes usually more numerous than the others
(Alexander, 1977). Bacillus were the predominant bacteria isolated from
every soil series in the present study. The soil series considered in this study
are from various agro-climatic zones and vary in their physical and chemical
properties. Some of the soil series had favourable properties for microbial
growth while others did not. But Bacilli were found in both categories. This is
probably because Bacilli has the ability to persist in unfavourable conditions
by the formation of endospores. These endospo res show resistance to both
prolonged desiccation and high temperature.
In addition to Bacilli, bacteria such as Micrococci, Staphylococci,
Enterobacter, Serratia, Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Aerococcus,
Erwinia and Actinomycetes were also commonly in coconut growing soils.
These types of bacteria are capable of utilizing various organic compounds
present in the soil. Pseudomonas and Bacilli are capable of utilizing cellulose ,
hemicellulose, starch and proteins; Serratia and Micrococcus have the ability
to use starch; Corynebacteria proteins; Bacilli and Pseudomonas have the
phosphate solubilization ability (Verma, 1998; Wani and Lee, 1995).
Some soil series e.g. Rathupasa, Kalpitiya, Ambakelle, Boralu, Katunayake
and Melsiripura had more bacterial species than the other soil series. This
may be due to the presence of favourable conditions for microbial growth in
these soils. Most of these soils have a higher amount of organic C content
than the other soil series.
Fungi are also an important biological factor in the soil. Among the identified
fungi, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Curvularia were common as reported by
Cosico (1994). Fungi such as Mucor, Rhizopus, Absedia , Syncephalastrum,
Mortierella, Humicola, Ulocladium and Trichoderma were also found in this
study. Anderson and Anderson (1986) reported that fungi are the main
16
cellulose decomposing organisms and these include Trichoderma, Fusarium,
Penicillium , Aspergillus and Curvularia .
Some soil series have shown more fungi species. This may be due to the
favourable environmental conditions of these soils which affect the growth of
fungi.
CONCLUSION
Some bacteria and fungi were specific to certain coconut growing soils i.e.
Bacillus thuringiensis only in Katunayake series, Staphylococcus epidermidis
in Kuliyapitiya and Ambakelle and Melsiripura series, Alcaligenes odorans
only in Negombo and Melsiripura series; Serratia marcescens only in
Madampe soil series. Fungal species Trichoderma species in Pallama,
Boralu and Melsiripura soil series; Uloc/adium sp only in Rathupasa and
Madampe series; Rhizopus species in Rathupasa, Kurunegala and
Melsiripura soil series. Growth of bacteria and fungi are mediated by
environmental condition. Therefore certain type of microorganisms grow in
environments where they have favourable conditions. Soil series differ from
each other in chemical and physical properties . Therefore according to their
physical and chemical properties specific microorgan isms were found in
specific soil series.
REFERENCES
Alexander, M. 1977. Introduction to soil microbiology. John Willey & Sons,
New York.
Anderson and Anderson, 1988. The Philippine Agriculturist. 77 (1): 67-76.
Cosico, W.C. 1994. Are microbial innoculants necessary in composting . The
Philippine Agriculturist 77(1): 67-76.
Cowan, S.T. and Steel, 1974. Identification of Medical Bacteria. Cambridge
University Press.
Medoza, N.S. and Joson, L.M. 1986. Isolation, selection and characterization
of cellulose degrading fungi. Philippine Journal of Science 115(1): 31-41.
Onions, A.H.S., Allsopp, O. and Eggins, H.O.W. 1981. Smith's Introduction to
Industrial Mycology. (Seventh edition), Edward Arnold Publishers Limited,
41, Bedford Square, London, WCLB 300.
17
Parkinson, D., Gray, T.R.B. and Williams, S.T. 1971. Methods for studying
the ecology of soil microorganisms. p 36-51,64-66,71-101. IBP
Handbook No. 19. International Biological Programme, London, NWI.
Sneath, P.H.A. 1986. Bergy's Manual of Systemic Bacteriology 2: 1104-1125.
Somasiri, L.L.W., Nadarajah, N., Amarasinghe, L. and Gunethilaka, H.A.J.
1993. Land Suitability Assessment of Coconut Growing Lands in the
Coconut Triangle. Coconut Research Institute, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka.
Tabatabai, M.A. 1982. Soil enzymes. In: Methods of Analysis. Part II 2nd
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Identification of soil micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi) in different coconut growing soils in Sri Lanka

Studies on seasonal fluctuation of exchangeable cations in a loamy sand soil of a coconut plantation

Effect of the methods of applying Potassium and Magnesium fertilizers on their interaction in the soil and uptake by coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)

Peiris, T.U.S.

Peiris, T.S.G.

Samita, S.

Arrival of south-west monsoon rains

National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka

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