Culturable Rhizosphere Microbes Associated with Invasive Plants in Post-Eruption Area of Mount Merapi

Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Bantul 55183, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

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Abstract

Eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010 had triggered significant succession, particularly to those affected areas. This succession was indicated by the formation of new soil layer and the emergence of invasive vegetations, thus affecting the rhizosphere microbes. This research was aimed to identify the rhizosphere microbe-inhabiting three invasive vegetations found in Southern Slope of Mt. Merapi. Sampling location was determined by purposive sampling based on the geomorphic unit and the vegetation availability in the Southern Slope. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of Chinese albizia, mahogany, and acacia found in the eruption-affected areas. Bacteria and fungi were isolated from both the rhizosphere of each vegetation and the composite soils from each sampling location. Each culturable isolate found was characterized morphologically. Results showed the appearance of 5 fungal genera (Trichoderma, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Geotrichum) and 10 bacterial genera (Brevibacterium, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Aeromonas, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Staphylococcus, and Azotobacter) inhabiting the rhizosphere of three pioneer plants. soil composite samples generally harbor higher microbial counts, individual rhizospheres act as selective filters, with Chinese albizia emerging as a particularly influential host for high fungal diversity and unique recruitment of genera, such as Mucor and Staphylococcus.