Determination of Biocontrol Potentialusing Zooxanthellae as Indicator

Abstract

Determination of biocontrol potential of bacteria isolated from diseased and healthy species of Acropora (Acroporaaspera and Acroporamillepora) was conducted in December 2016and February 2017. A complete randomised block design was used with 6 replicates per species per treatment: control, treated with bacteria from diseased coral, treated with bacteria from healthy coral and treated with bacteria from both healthy and diseased coral. The number of zooxanthellae was used as indicator. Using one-way ANOVA results showed conclusively that, healthy bacteria isolated from A. asperahas growthpromoting effect (F =13.542; p= .004) on zooxanthelllae thus sustaining the health of the coral and as inoculum acts as a living entity in the line of defense.