ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND EXPLORATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF ENDOPHYTIC BACTERIA FROM MEDICINAL PLANTS

Abstract

Bacterial endophytes are known to reside inside tissues of plants and can form a variety of different relationships including symbiotic, mutualistic, commensalistic and ammensalism. There has been increasing evidence, that endophytic bacteria can stimulus plant growth significantly by the production of phytohormones analogous to PGPR activity. In the present study, leaf explants of 6 medicinally important plants viz. Abrus precatorius (AP), Aegle marmelos (AM), Aloe barbadensis (AB), Annona squamosal (AS), Azadirachta indica (AI) and Oscimum sanctum (OS) were used for isolation and characterization of bacterial endophytes via morphological, biochemical examinations. Total 21 endophytes were isolated on Luria-Bertani (LB) and Nutrient agar isolation medium. Isolates were further screened for the enzymatic activity (amylase, protease, cellulase and lipase), and antifungal potential against plant fungal pathogen Aspergillus niger. Endophytic bacteria isolates from Aegle marmelos, Aloe barbadensis, and Azadirachta indica showed maximum amylase, protease, cellulase, and lipase activities in addition to antifungal activities. The screened endophytic isolates will be useful as a possible source of novel bioactive metabolites and potential biopesticides and biofertilizers.