Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microbiology of the root region of coconut and cacao under mixed cropping

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Mixed cropping of cacao in coconut plantations improved the microbial activity in the rhizosphere of coconut which may be attributed to an increase in organic matter content of soil due to periodic shedding of cacao leaves. When compared to coconut cultivation without cacao, mixed cropping of coconut with cacao appeared to stimulate the population of bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere of coconut, including the nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilising bacteria. The occurrence of indole acetic acid producing Escherichia sp. on the root surface of coconut and the appearance of gibberellin(like-substance) producing Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus in the rhizosphere were other salient observations made in a pioneering study on the microbiology of the root region of plantation crops under mixed cropping. re]19750702

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Audus, L. J., Plant Growth Substances. Volume I. Chemistry and Physiology Leonard Hill Books, London (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Becking, J. H., Nitrogen fixing bacteria of the genus Beijerinckia in South African soils. Plant and Soil 11, 193–206 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bird, H. L. and Pugh, C. T., A paper chromatographic separation of giberellic acid and gibberellin A. Plant Physiol. 33, 45–57 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chhonkar, P. K. and Subba Rao, N. S., Phosphate solubilisation by fungi associated with legume root nodules. Can. J. Microbiol. 13, 749–753 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Fred, E. B. and Waksman, S. A., Laboratory Manual of General Microbiology. McGraw Hill Book Company Inc. New York and London (1928).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Martin, J. P., Use of acid, rose bengal and streptomycin in the plate method for estimating soil fungi. Soil Sci. 69, 215–233 (1950).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rao, W. V. B. S. and Sinha, M. K., Phosphate dissolving organisms in the soil and rhizosphere. Indian J. Agr. Sci. 33, 272–278 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Sarma, K. S. B., Studies on some physiological characteristics of Rhizobium in relation to symbiotic efficiency. Ph.D. thesis. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Thornton, H. G., On the development of a standardized agar medium for counting soil bacteria with especial regard to the repression of spreading colonies. Ann. Applied Biol. 9, 241–274 (1922).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Walkley, A. and Black, I. A., An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci. 37, 29–38 (1934).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wareing, P. F. and Phillips, L. D. J., The Control of Growth and Differentiation in Plants. Pergamon Press, Oxford, New York, Toronto, Sydney and Braunschweig (1970).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India

    S. K. Nair & N. S. Subba Rao

Authors
  1. S. K. Nair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. S. Subba Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nair, S.K., Subba Rao, N.S. Microbiology of the root region of coconut and cacao under mixed cropping. Plant Soil 46, 511–519 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015910

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015910

Keywords

Search

Navigation