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ABSTRACT
This research was carried out to ascertain the fungal profile of soil in Kalio-Ama community. The total number of the colonies forming unit of the sample in FI1 was 6.0 x 104cfu/ml, in FI2 was 4.0 x 104cfu/ml, in FI3 was 1.0 x 103cfu/ml, in FI4was 5.0x 103cfu/ml and in FI5 was 3.0 x 103cfu/ml. from the analysis, it was found that fungi that are associated with Kalio-Ama soil were AspergillusSp, PenicilliumSp, TrichophytonSp, MucorSp and Fusarium Sp. These are important to the soil due to the role they play in enhancing decomposition and mineralization of organic matter to enhance plant growth.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
TITLE PAGE – – – – – – – – – i
DECLARATION – – – – – – – – – ii
CERTIFICATION – – – – – – – – – iii
DEDICATION – – – – – – – – – iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT – – – – – – – – v
ABSTRACT – – – – – – – – – – vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS – – – – – – – – vii
LIST OF FIGURES – – – – – – – – ix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY – – – – – 1
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM – – – – – – 5
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY – – – – 5
1.3.1 AIM – – – – – – – – – – 5
1.3.2 OBJECTIVES – – – – – – – – 6
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY – – – – – 6
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY – – – – – – 6
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS – – – – – – 6
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY – – – – – 8
2.2 TECHNIQUES TO MEASURE FUNGAL DOMINANCE IN SOIL – 10
2.3 PHYSICAL DISTURBANCE AND TILLING EFFECTS
AFFECTING FUNGAL DOMINANCE IN SOIL – – – – 12
2.4 DIRECT AND INDIRECT NUTRIENT EFFECTS OF
FUNGAL DOMINANCE IN SOIL – – – – – 14
2.5 SOIL pH EFFECTS ON THE FUNGAL DOMINANCE IN SOIL – 15
2.6 SOIL MOISTURE, TEMPERATURE AND ELEVATED CO2
EFFECTS OF FUNGAL DOMINANCE – – – – 18
2.7 FUNCTIONAL IMPLICATION OF FUNGAL DOMINANCE IN
SOIL – – – – – – – – – – 20
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 MATERIALS – – – – – – – – 21
3.2 METHODS – – – – – – – – – 21
3.2.1 STERILIZATION OF THE GLASSWARES – – – – 21
3.3 SAMPLE COLLECTION – – – – – – – 21
3.4 MEDIA USED – – – – – – – – 22
3.5 PREPARATION OF SABOURAUD DESTROSE AGAR – – 22
3.6 PREPARATION OF THE SAMPLE AND INOCULATION
ONTO SABOURAUD DEXTROSE AGAR – – – – 22
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 RESULTS – – – – – – – – – 24
4.2 DISCUSSION – – – – – – – – 26
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 CONCLUSION – – – – – – – – 27
5.2 RECOMMENDATION – – – – – – – 27
REFERENCES – – – – – – – – – 28
LIST OF TABLES
PAGE
Table 1: Total fungal colonies as counted on the plate – – 24
Table 2: Macroscopic and Microscopic characteristics of
the fungi isolates – – – – – – – 25
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A fungus is a eukaryote that digest food externally and absorbs nutrients directly through its cell walls. Most fungi reproduce by spores and have a body (thallus). Composed of microscopic tubular cells called hyphae. Fungi are heterotrophs and like animals, obtain their carbon and energy from other organisms. Some fungi obtain their nutrients from living host (plant or animal) and are called biotrophs, others obtain their nutrients from dead plants or animals and are called saprotrophs(saprophytes, saprobes). Some fungi infect a living host, but kill host cells in order to obtain their nutrients these are called Necrotrophs. (Baldrian 2009).
Fungi were once considered to be primitive members of the plant kingdom, just slightly more advanced than bacteria we now know that fungi are not primitive at all infact, recent taxonomic treatments such as the tree of life project shows that fungi and both belong to the group Opisthokonta. Fungi may not be our next of kin, but they are more closely related to animals than they are to plants. We also recognize that organisms traditionally studied as ‘ fungi’ belong to three very different unrelated groups: the true fungi in kingdom fungi (Eumycota), the oomycetes, and the slime molds (Allison et al., 2008)
The discipline of biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as mycology, which is often regarded as a branch of botany, even though genetic studies have shown that fungi are more closely related to animals than plant. Fungi reproduces by means of spores, which are often produced on specialized structures or in fruiting bodies, such as the head of mushroom. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange. They have been long used as a direct source of food, such as mushrooms, and truffles, as a leaving agent for bread and infermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer and soya sauce. Since the 1950s, fungi have been used for the production by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are used as biological agents to control weeds and pests. Many species produce bioactive compound called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides that are toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few species are consumed recreationally or in traditional ceremonies as source of psychotropic compounds, loss of crops, due to fungal disease or food supplies and local economics irrespective of their importance in humans, little is known of the true biodiversity of kingdom fungi, which has been estimated at around 1.5million species, with about 5% of these having been formally classified. Nature of the soil affects the soil organisms individually as well as their entirety(Dick, 2009).
Bacteria and Archaea are the smallest organisms in the soil apart from viruses. Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotic. All of the other micro-organisms are eukaryote which means they have a more advanced cell structures with internal organelles and the ability ro reproduce sexually. Bacteria and Archaea are the most abundant micro-organisms in the soil, and serve many important reasons, including nitrogen fixation. The dominant approach to understanding soil microbial communitiesihas been to simplify the community by dividing it into ecologically meaningful groups.
Another difference made within the microbial community is based on the idea of copiotrophs against oligotrophs where copiotrophs are organisms that thrive under high resources conditions and oligotrophs thrive under low resources conditions (Reeder et al 2012).
One categorization of micro-organisms in soil that does not suffer from many of the above short comings and that has been widely employed in the division between the major decomposer groups: fungi and soils are the naturally occurring physical covering of the earth surface and represent the interface of three materials states: Solid (geological and dead biological materials) liquids (water), and gases (air in soil pores). Soil are the foundation of all terrestrial ecosystems and are home to a vast diversity of bacteria, archaea, fungi, insects, annelids, and other invertebrates as well as plants and algae. These soil dwellers provide food or nutrients that live above and below ground. Soils also play important roles in buffering and filtering fresh water ecosystems. In other words, soils are extremely important to human societies. We depend on soil for the basis on which we and our buildings stand,and for the production of food, building materials, and other resources, indeed soils influence most ecosystem services on which we depend. (Reeder et al 2012).
Soils microbes, bacteria, archaea, and fungi play different and often important roles in these ecosystem services. The very large diversity of soil microbes means their activities drive or contribute to the cycling of all major elements (e.g C,N,P) and this cycling affects the structure and the functions of soil ecosystems as well as the ability of soils to provide services to people.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This research work, seeks to evaluate the fungi profile of Kalio-Ama community. Micro organisms in the soil, plays a positive role contricuting to the study of the soil.
Also, to evaluate the relevance of fungi in the soil and to determine the fungal species that is associated to the soil.
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.3.1 AIM
The aim of this study is to examine fungal profile of Kalio-Ama community, Okirika Local Government Area.
1.3.2 OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study is to
1. Isolate fungi associated with soil.
2. Identify the fungi isolated from soil.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is to provide information to increase our understanding of the fungal activities that play important role in enhancing decomposition and mineralization of organic matter to enhance plant growth.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research work is centered on fungi profile of soil in Kalio-Ama community, Okirika Local Government Area.
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS
SOIL: Soil is the mixture of materials, organic matter, gases, liquids, and the countless organisms that together support life on earth.
FUNGUS: Fungus is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes unicellular micro-organisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as multi-cellular fungi that produce familiar fruiting forms known as mushrooms.
SOIL MICROBIOLOGY: Soil microbiology is the study of organisms in soil, their functions and how they affect soil properties.
ECOSYSTEM:The refers to acomplete consortium of organisms in a specific environment plus the abiotic surrounding.
MYCORRHIZA:Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association compasses of a fungus and roots of vascular plants.
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