African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 1 (2), pp. 67–69, December 2002

ISSN 1684-5315  © 2002 Academic Journals  

Characterization of potential ethylene-producing rhizosphere bacteria of Striga-infested maize and sorghum

Olubukola O. Babalola^1,2*, Elie O. Osir²  and Abiodun I. Sanni¹

¹Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan Nigeria

²International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya

*Corresponding author; tel: 234-803-703-5965; e-mail:  olubukola_babalola@hotmail.com

Accepted 12 November 2002

Three rhizosphere bacteria, Pseudomonas sp., Enterobacter sakazakii and Klebsiella oxytoca, were analyzed for genetic variation. DNA fingerprint patterns of the three bacteria were markedly different when amplified with different primers. In total, 68 bands were produced by the three primers, 62 of which where variable. The number of polymorphic RAPD loci per isolate ranged from one to 13. Cluster analysis indicated that E. sakazakii  and K. oxytoca are the most closely related of the three.