Abstract

Association of rhizosphere microflora of okra under the influence of Sesbania aculeata L. green manuring was investigated during the present study. Four different varieties of okra were selected and presence and absence of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere micro-organisms were recorded using soil dilution and plate count method. A total of 18 fungal species were isolated from green manure amended plots of four different varieties of okra viz., Mucor racemosus, Rhizopus nigricans, Chaetomium globosum, Phoma hibernica, Macrophominaphaseolina, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus sydowii, Aspergillus sulphureus, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium rubrum, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride, Aiternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia sp. Among them, Aspergillus was the most predominant genus with its five different species. The analysis of soil samples from amended plots revealed more frequent microflora due to the effect of S. aculeata L. green manuring as compared to un-amended okra plots. The population of microflora having antagonistic potential was increased with green manure amendment, while plant pathogenic microbial population was recorded to be decreased during the present study.