## 3 Results
### Distribution of the Major Microbiome Phyla in the Infected Soil Samples
(class) (Es1 = 0.01%, Es2 = 0.01%, Es3 = 0.02%, and 0.01%). Class Archaea consisting of Archaeoglobin (Es1 = 0.06%, Es2 = 0.06%, Es3 = 0.07%, and Ec = 0.05%), unclassified (derived from Korarchaeota) (Es1 = 0.05%, Es2 = 0.04%, Es3 = 0.04%, and Ec = 0.53%), Thermococci (archaea) (Es1 = 0.03%, Es2 = 0.02%, Es3 = 0.03%, and Ec = 0.03%) and unclassified (derived from Thaumarchaeota) (Es1 = 0.02%, Es2 = 0.02%, Es3 = 0.02%, and Ec = 0.02%) were observed to show more abundance in the soil sample from Eruwa (Es) (Figure 5a). Other bacteria were more predominant in infested rhizosphere soil and bulk samples (Es and Ec) obtained from Eruwa compared to soil samples from Mbuzini (Ms and Mc). The Order bacteria were observed to be more predominant and showed more abundance in soil samples obtained from Eruwa, with the exception of Methanobacteriales (Ms1 = 2.0%, Ms2 = 2.0%, Ms3 = 2.0%, and Mc = 2.1%) and Actinomycetes (Ms1 = 0.22%, Ms2 = 0.18%, Ms3 = 0.21%, and Mc = 0.19%). In addition, Mycoplasma (Es1 = 0.07% and Es3 = 0.07%) and (Ms1 = 0.07% and Ms3 = 0.07%) was in abundance in both infected soil samples collected from both Eruwa and Mbuzini. The order fungi consisting of Entomophhtorales (Es1 = 0.40%, Es2 = 0.31%, Es3 = 0.32%, and Ec = 0.35%), Kickxelles (Es1 = 0.03%, Es2 = 0.03%, Es3 = 0.03%, and Ec = 0.03%), Peronosporales (Es1 = 0.006%, Es2 = 0.005%, Es3 = 0.006%, and Ec = 0.006%), Paragglomerales (Es1 = 0.004%, Es2 = 0.002%, Es3 = 0.003%, and Ec = 0.003%), Monoblepharidales (Es1 = 0.003%, Es2 = 0.003%, Es3 = 0.003%, and Ec = 0.003%), Onygenales (Es1 = 0.0005%, Es2 = 0.0004%, Es3 = 0.0005%, and Ec = 0.0004%), and Dothideales (Es1 = 0.0003%, Es2 = 0.0003%, and Ec = 0.0002%) were observed to be more predominant and showed more abundance in the infected rhizosphere soil samples obtained from Eruwa (Es) compared to Mbuzini (Ms). The fungi that were in abundance in both sampling sites include Harpellales (Es1 = 5.7%, Es2 = 5.9%, Es3 = 6.1%, and Ec = 6.0%) (Ms1 = 6.6%, Ms2 = 5.8%, Ms3 = 6.5%, and Mc = 6.0%) and Tremellales (Es1 = 0.1% and 0.1%) and (Ms1 = 0.1% and 0.1%). Methanocellales (archaea) (Es1 = 0.07%, Es2 = 0.07%, Es3 = 0.08%, and Ec = 0.07%) were also observed to have a higher proportion in _Striga_-infested soil from Eruwa (Es) (Figure 5b). Bacterial families are predominant and showed high abundance in the _Striga_-infested rhizosphere and bulk soil samples recovered from Eruwa (Es). Meanwhile, Nannocytaceae (Ms = 0.051%, Ms2 = 0.062%, Ms3 = 0.060%, and Mc = 0.63%) showed more abundance in _Striga_-infested and bulk soil samples obtained from Mbuzini (Ms). In addition, _Thermacene_ was observed to be abundant in Es1 = 0.027%, Es3 = 0.023%, and Ec = 0.026%, Ms1 = 0.024%, Ms2 = 0.023%, and Mc = 0.024%, Heliobacteraceae, Es3 = 0.14%, Ec = 0.13%, and Ms1= 0.13% and Ms3= 018%, unclassified (derived from Thermotogales) Es1 = 0.048%, Ec = 0.062%, and Ms1 = 0.052% and Ms2 = 0.049%, Hahelaceae Es1 = 0.045%, Es3 = 0.042%, Ec = 0.051%, and Ms1 = 0.044%, Ms2 = 0.043%, and Mc = 0.044%, and Rickettsiaceae Ec= = 0.032%, Ec = 0.048%, and Ms1 = 0.031%, Ms = 0.031%; that is, they showed abundance in the soil samples from both sites. All fungal families present showed high abundance in soil samples from Eruwa, compared to Mbuzini except for Xylariaceae (fungus) (Ms1 = 0.20%, Ms2 = 0.23%, Ms3 = 0.23%, and Mc = 0.25%). Ferroplasmaceae (archaea) was more predominant in soil samples Ms1 = 0.21%, Ms2 = 0.23%, Ms3 = 0.23%, and Mc = 0.24% recovered from Mbuzini, while Nitrosopumilaceae (archaea) was more abundant in Eruwa soil samples (Ms1 = 0.87%, Ms2 = 0.65%, Ms3 = 0.70%, and Mc = 0.72%) when compared to Eruwa (Es) (Figure 5c). Figure 5: _Cont_. Generally, there were more predominant bacterial genera in infested and bulk rhizosphere soil samples from Eruwa (Es1, Es2, Es3, and Ec), with the exception of _Eulopicsium_ (Ms1 = 0.81%, Ms2 = 0.65%, Ms3 = 0.67%, and Mc = 0.64%) obtained from soil samples from Mbuzini.