Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROOTS OF RHIZOPHORA MANGLE, RHIZOPHORA HARRISONII AND AVICENNIA AFRICANA IN PORT HARCOURT MANGROVE SWAMP, RIVERS STATE.

H.N.Ukoima and M.A. Amakiri

Abstract

This experiment was designed to find out the percentage frequency of fungi at the rhizoplane of mangrove forest seedlings within the range 1 - 40cm and 41 - 80ern respectively. Two experimental centres namely; Creek Road waterside and Eagle Island waterside, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria were chosen for this study.The results obtained showed that Cu rvularia lurzata, Fusarium rnoniliforme. Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizo pus stolonifer, Fusarium sp. and Pestalotia sp. were associated with mangrove tree seedling. At Creek road waterside the percentage frequency on the seedlings of Avicennia Africana, on heights 1-40cm were; Fusarium sp. 19%.A, niger 17%, F. monthforme 0%. R. stolonife.r 0%, Penicillum sp. 3% and Curvularia 3%. On plants heights 41-80cm fungi isolated were; Fusarium sp. 83%, A. niger 8%, F. znoniliforme 8%, P. stolontler 0%, Penicillium sp. 0% and Curvularia sp. 0%. On R. harrisonii; plant heights 1-40cm, Fusariurn sp. 29%, R. stolonifer 0%. Curvularia sp 3% were found. On plant heights 41-80cm; Pusan= sp. 0% F. monihforme 0%, A. flavus 0%, A. niger 67% Peniciliunt sp. 33%. R. stolonifer 0%, Cunntlaria sp. 0% were recovered. And on R. mangle, plant heights I-40cm, FuSanum sp. 23%, F. moniliforme 0% A. flavus 28%, A. niger 6%, Penicillium sp. 48%, R. stolonzfer 3% and Curvularia sp. 7% were isolated. On plant heights 41-80cm; Fusarium sp. 13%, F. monthforme 13%, A. flavus 0%, A. niger 6%, Penicillium sp 31%, R. stolonifer and Curvularia sp 38%were recorded. At Eagle Island waterside the percentage frequency on A. Africana, heights I-40cm were Penicillium sp 46%, A. niger 19%, A. flavus 21%, Fusarium sp 0%, R. stolomfer 9% and Pestalotia sp 5%; on heights 41 - 80cm; Penicillium sp 100%, A. niger, A. flavus, Fusarium sp, R. stolonifer, and Pestalotia sp 0% respectively. On R. harrisonii, heights I-40cm; Penicillium sp 51%, A. niger 38%. A. flavus 2%, Fusarium sp 4%, R. stolonzfer 2% and Pestalotia sp 0%; on heights 41-80cm; Penicillium sp 83 %, A. niger, A. flavits and Fusanum sp 0% respectively while R. stolonifer and Restalotia sp had 8% respectively. On R. mangle, heights I-40cm; Penicilliunt sp 59%, A. niger 10%, A. flavus 10%, Fusariurn sp 18%, R. stolonzfer 0% and Pestalolia sp 3%;on heights 41- 80cm, sp 100%, A. niger, A. flavrn, Fusanum sp, R. stolonifer and Pestalotia sp had 0% respectively. These results were significant at p<0.05.