Molecular study of Enterobacter associated with roots of maize (Zea mays L.) using 16S rDNA in Limpopo Province, South Africa 

Abstract

One of the most significant grain crops in South Africa, white maize, is grown all throughout the country in a wide variety of climates and soil types due to its high economic value. White maize cultivation is expanding at a staggering rate, for which accurate identification of root-associated bacteria is necessary. Among the various bacterium affecting maize, Enterobacter species a gram-negative, motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacteria are dangerous pathogenic bacteria causing drastic reduction in yield if not properly identified and managed. Therefore, this study was conducted to isolate and identify Enterobacter from maize fields in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The molecular study was done in 2022 at the Aquaculture Research Unit, University of Limpopo. To identify the bacterium associated with maize, for extraction DNA, the Chelex method was used then 16S rDNA marker was used. The bacterium was identified as Enterobacter. The Nblast analysis showed South African Enterobacter has 97% similarity with a population from Korea (KC355340). Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood placed this species with those molecularly identified as Enterobacter in the same clade with highly supported (100) bootstrap values. In conclusion, this species is identified using 16S rDNA properly. However, other DNA markers are recommended to better understand Enterobacter phylogeny.