Characteristics of rhizobacteria on healthy and white rot-infected rubber trees

Abstract

White root disease is an important disease in rubber plants caused by the fungus Rigidoporus microporus. The severity of white root disease in smallholder rubber plantations is up to 15%. Various controlling technique has not been effectively eliminate this disease. To develop an integrated white root disease management, a comprehensive study including the ecology and rhizobial characteristic of rubber tree is needed. This study was aimed to describe the characteristics of rhizobacteria on healthy and infected rubber trees. The results showed that the population of antagonistic and non-fluoresence bacteria was higher in the rhizosphere of healthy rubber plants, vice versa. The observation of bacterial morphology showed that the bacterial community was more diverse in the rhizosphere of healthy rubber than the rhizosphere infected by R. microporus.