Abstract

LIZARAZO-MEDINA, Pilar Ximena  and  GOMEZ-VASQUEZ, Diana. Rizospheric Microbiota of Espeletia spp. from Santa Inés and Frontino-Urrao Paramos in Antioquia, Colombia. Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2015, vol.20, n.1, pp.175-182. ISSN 0120-548X.  https://doi.org/10.15446/abc.v20n1.42827.

The frailejón (Espeletia spp.) is the emblematic shrub of the paramo. This is an important ecosystem because they are sources of water and organic matter, and are inhabited by a high number of endemic biological species. Considering the importance of the microbiota in soil structure and nutrients availability to support plant growth, we assessed the cultivable microbial populations in Espeletia spp. rhizosphere in Santa Inés and Frontino-Urrao paramos, including functional groups with important role in cycling nutrients. The soil pH was strongly acid in both sites and the organic matter and nitrogen contents were highest in Frontino-Urrao soil. Nevertheless, the microbial abundance was similar in these sites except the content of endospore-forming bacteria, which was 3.8 fold large in Frontino-Urrao. Phosphate solubilizing and cellulolytic microorganisms were found in both sites. Those microorganisms would be used for soil restoration processes in paramos degraded by mining, livestock or agriculture.

Keywords : Espeletia spp; microbiota; paramos; rhizosphere; soil.

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