**3.3 Effect of the microorganisms on** *Phytophthora palmivora*

308 Biodiversity Loss in a Changing Planet

The results of the statistical analyses showed that the mean number of microorganisms colonies counted per gram of soil varied significantly (P<0.05) with the isolation method (with baits or no bait). This result revealed that the use of fragment of pods infected by *Phytophthora* as bait, significantly improved the isolation of the microorganisms on PDA,

methods NYD PDA TME PCAT Direct isolation 3.27 1011 **a** ± 2.14 1011 4.72 106 **a** ±1.42 106 4.64 105 **a** ± 1.60 105 5.10 105 **a** ± 2.50 105

isolation 3.80 1011 **a** ± 2.35 1010 2.43 109 **b** ± 1.41 109 6.10 106 **b** ± 1.60 106 7.64 107 **b** ± 3.67 107 Means within the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to

Table 1. Mean numer of colonies for unit (cfu/g) according to the isolation methods and the

For the samples taken in Divo and Abengourou, the statistical analyses did not show any significant differences (P>0.05) between regions with regard to the mean number of microorganisms colonies for the different culture media except for the NYD. There was no clear relationship between the density of microorganisms isolated and the age of field except

Culture media

Culture media

NYD PDA TME PCAT

farms 1.9 107 **a** ± 1.42 107 1.75 106 **a** ± 0 4.67 106 **a** ± 2.2 106 1.2 108 **a** ± 6.96 108

farms 1.38 1012 **b** ± 4.31 1010 1.15 107 **b** ± 1.11 106 5.97 106 **a** ± 3.22 106 2.77 107 **<sup>a</sup>** ± 1.52 107

farms 5.81 107 **a** ± 4.78 107 2.05 108 **a** ± 1.42 108 1.42 106 **<sup>a</sup>** ± 7.96 105 5.75 106 **<sup>a</sup>** ± 4 104

Means within the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to

Table 2. Mean number of colonies for unit (cfu/g) according to the locations and the age of

Regarding the pods, 313 fungi isolates were purified. Among the purified isolates, 58 isolates belonging to 9 genera were identified. These were *Penicillium* sp (6), *Fusarium* sp (7), *Botrytis* sp. (9), *Pestalotia* sp. (24). The remaining isolates identified belong to the genera *Nigrospora* (2), *Physoderma* (1), *Polynema* (1), and *Botryodiplodia* (8). The other isolates (255)

belong to diverse species or genera, but the relationship has not been established yet.

farms 3.2 1010 **a** ± 2.15 1010 3.45 109 **<sup>a</sup>** ± 1.99 109 1 106 **<sup>a</sup>** ± 5.76 105 5.78 104 **a** ± 3.77 104

TME and PCAT media (Table 1).

Newman & Keuls's test at 5 % probability

Age of the farms

Young

Old

Old

young

Newman & Keuls's test at 5 % probability

**3.2 Identification of the microorganisms isolated** 

for the bacteria on the NYD medium in Abengourou (Table 2).

Isolation

Baiting

culture media

Locations

Abengourou

Divo

the farms
