RHIZOSPHERE AND

SOIL MICROBES
 INTRODUCTION

• Rhizosphere is the region of the

soil in contact with the plant. It
contains many microorganisms and
its composition is affected by root
activities. In another word, it is an
environment under the influence of
plant
• The rhizosphere is the zone
surrounding the roots of plants in
which complex relations exist
among the plant, the soil
microorganisms and the soil itself
• Soil microbes are broadly defined as a group of microscopic
life forms that include bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotes like
fungi
• Most soil microbes can be classified as fungi, bacteria,
protozoa, or viruses. It has been estimated that a single gram
of soil can contain up to several billion bacteria alone.
• Rhizosphere can be divided into two areas:

1) Inner rhizosphere: Area on the root surface, have large

microbial population
2) Outer rhizosphere: Area near root surface, less microbial
population
 CHARACTERISTICS OF RHIZOSPHERE

• A major characteristic of the rhizosphere is the release of

organic compounds into the soil by plant roots. These
compounds, called exudates, make the environment of the
rhizosphere very different from the environment in the bulk
soil.
 RHIZOSPHERE MICROORGANISMS

• Rhizosphere Fugi: Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger,

Fusarium oxysporum
• Rhizophere protozoa: Heterodera, Pectus, Tylenchus,
Acrobeles, Helicotylenchus
• Rhizosphere bacteria: Arthobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus
bervis, B. circulans, B. polymyxa, Agrobacterium radiobacter,
Azobacter
 RHIZOSOHERE EFFECT

• Compared to non-rooted bulk soil, the rgizosperic soil around

the plant root contains much larger population of
microorganism
• A stimulation that can be put on a quantative basis by the use
if the R:S ratio
• R:S ratio= Number of microorganisms in the rhizosphere soil:
number of microorganisms in non-rhizosphere soil.
• R/S>1, Good stimulation
• R/S=1, No Stimulation
• R/S<1, Inhibition
 SIGNIFICANCE OF RHIZOSPHERE

• Plant rot surrounding soil contain both types of bacteria

beneficial bacterial and pathogenic bacteria. But Beneficial
bacteria fight with bacteria and kill them
• Some bacteria fix N2 and provide plant
• Sulfur oxidizing bacteria, produce sulfate and provide to plant
• Phosphate solubilizers are also found. They secrets acids and
solubilize the rock phosphate and make free phosphate
available for the plant
• Some bacteria produce plant hormone like gibberellins, Auxin
support plant growth
• Organic chelating agent produced by microorganism that
chelate manganese and supply to plant
• Wide range of enzyme of plant and microbes present in
rgizosphere, catalyze the breakdown of complex material
enzyme
• They influence phosphorus availability to plant through the
process of ,mineralization and immobilization.
 HOW ORGANISMS IN THE RHIZOSPHERE
INFLUENCE PLANT ROOTS

• Organisms in the rhizosphere can affect the plant roots by

altering the movement of carbon compounds from roots to
shoots.
• Organisms in the rhizosphere can affect the plant roots by
altering the movement of carbon compounds from roots to
shoots.
• Organisms in the rhizosphere can affect the plant roots by
altering the movement of carbon compounds from roots to
shoots.
• Azospirillum is a bacterium that commonly lives in the
rhizosphere of grasses. Some strains of this organism produce
hormones that stimulate plant growth and other strains fix
atmospheric nitrogen and make it available to the grass.
• Some soil organisms are pathogenic and attack plant roots
 SOIL ENVIRONMENT

• An orderly increase in he quantity of all the cellular

constittuents
• The soil environment consists of a variety of physical,
biological and chemical factors that affect the abundance and
diversity of microbes found in the soil.
FACTORS AFFECTING ON MICROORGANISM

• The growth of microorganisms is influenced by various

physical and chemical factors of their environment
• Chemical factors- Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus,
Sulfur etc
• Psicalhy factors- Temperature, pH , Osmotic pressure,
Hydrostatic pressure and radiation
Thanks everyone
Feel free to ask question