Abstract:
Begonia nigritarum (Kamel) Steud, a perennial flowering plant widely distributed in the
Philippines, is renowned for its diverse variants and medicinal properties. Within the
rhizosphere, the soil region surrounding plant roots, a complex microbial community
exists, playing a pivotal role in plant growth and health. However, limited knowledge exists
regarding the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of B. nigritarum. Hence, this
research aimed to characterize these communities and assess their diversity. Three
rhizosphere soil samples from the University of the Philippines Los Baños underwent
morphological characterization and biochemical tests—molecular analysis employed 16S
rRNA sequencing to identify the bacterial species present. The subsequent data analysis
involved sequence alignment, clustering into operational taxonomic units, and taxonomic
classification. The study revealed a diverse bacterial community within the rhizosphere of
B. nigritarum, with a significant proportion of unclassified taxa. The predominant phylum
observed was Proteobacteria, particularly Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria,
Betaproteobacteria, and Deltaproteobacteria, known for their ecological functions
associated with nutrient cycling, plant growth promotion, and disease suppression.
However, further investigation is required to identify specific bacteria and explore their
roles in plant-microbe interactions and ecosystem processes. The findings lay the
foundation for future studies on harnessing rhizosphere organisms for promoting plant
growth.
