Savanna Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 1(2):231-234
Characterization of Bacteria from the Gut of Sitophilus zeamais (Maize Weevil)
Danjumma B.J., Shamtau D. Yusuf M., and Peni D. N.
ABSTRACT
Sitophilus zeamais is ranked among insects causing the greatest damage in stored to maize grains in most parts of the tropical
and sub-tropical countries. The activities of the pests are so destructive that damage ranging from 20 to 90% has been recorded
on the untreated maize. The current work focus on bacteriological isolation and identification of bacteria found in the gut of
S. zeamias. Hetetrophic plate counts was carried out using pour plate method, morphological features of the bacterial by
colonies appearance on the plate media and identification by microscope and biochemical test. The results showed that nutrient
agar plate had Total heterotrophic bacteria count of 33x10
7
cfu/ml, Total Enterobacter count in MaCconkey agar was
17x10
7
cfu/ml and the Total coliform count in Eosin Methylene Blue agar was 32x10
-7
cfu/ml. Five (5) different bacteria from
the gut adults S. zeamais were isolated. The members of the genera isolated were Bacillaceae and Enterobacteriaceae families
were isolated from S. zeamais. The results of biochemical tests conducted revealed the present of E. coli, Enterobacter sp,
Acetobacter spp. Bacillus spp. and Gluconobacter spp. This study confirms that the gut of S. zeamais harboured. The bacteria
isolated produces enzymes capable of degrades chitin, a structural polysaccharide in maize grains. Thus, the S. zeamais and
the microorganisms inhabiting the gut share a highly symbiotic relationship.
