Identification of native rhizobacteria peculiar to selected food crops in Mmabatho municipality of South Africa

Plant associated bacteria (PAB) are potential agents for food security because some of them act as biofertilizer. Rhizosphere soils of Mmabatho municipality were evaluated for indigenous plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Pseudomonas selective agar, Enterococcus selective agar, tryptone soy agar, nutrient agar and yeast mannitol agar were used to isolate rhizobacteria from bush bean, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, onion, spinach, turnip and watermelon. Bacteria identified with the aid of API kits were Burkholderia gladioli, Burk. cepacia, Vibrio fluvialis, Aeromonas hydrophila, Serratia plymuthica, S. ficaria, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseu. putida, Pseu. luteola, Erwinia spp, Escherichia vulneris, Rahnella aquatilis, Ewingella americana, Acinetobacter baumannii, A. calcoaceticus, Proteus penneri, and Shigella spp. Commonality, peculiarity and abundance of the bacteria at the various rhizospheres are discussed. The findings add to the much needed knowledge of PAB in Mmabatho municipality for biofertilizer and biodegradation of heavy metals and pesticide residues. Keywords: bacteriabiodegradationbiofertilizerPGPRrhizospheresoil Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the North-West University, Mafikeng campus for funding the study. We are extremely grateful to Ms Rika Huyser for technical assistance during the bench work and to Mr Sizwe Mabena of the university library.