Maize seed endophytic bacteria: dominance of antagonistic, lytic enzyme-producing Bacillus spp.

Abstract

Beneficial aspects of endophytic microorganisms have motivated researchers to explore plant endophytic world. The present study was aimed to isolate and characterize the seed-borne endophytic bacteria from diverse maize genotypes. Eighty maize seed endophytic bacteria (MSEB), isolated from 30 maize genotypes, were characterized using polyphasic approach. The dendrograms and phylogenetic tree generated on the basis of ARDRA analysis and metabolic profiling of endophytic bacteria revealed genotypic and biochemical diversity among MSEB. The 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed Bacillus as the most dominant encountered genus affiliated with Phylum Firmicutes. Few isolates belonged to genus Staphylococcus, whereas one isolate was identified as Corynebacterium sp. under Phylum Actinobacteria. Majority of the MSEB isolates exhibited antagonism against phytopathogenic fungi, production of ammonia, and secretion of lytic enzymes; some isolates also exhibited indole acetic acid production, the traits of which can be helpful in endophytic establishment and advantageous to the host plant. Besides, many MSEB exhibited tolerance to salinity (10%), osmotic stress (40% PEG6000), and temperature (60 °C), indicating their possible application under stress conditions. Endophytic nature of the selected MSEB isolates was confirmed by tracking their presence in shoots, leaves, and roots of the host seedlings with the help of biochemical marker (rifampicin resistance). Thus, the MSEB identified in the present study can be explored as potential bioinputs for improving plant growth and productivity under stressed conditions, besides helping in understanding the plant-endophyte interactions.

Characterization and Identification of Tef (Eragrostis tef) Seed Endophytic Bacterial Species and Evaluate their Effect on Plant Growth Promotion

“…Based on temperature tolerance test, majority of the identified endophytic bacterial species such as Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pantoea dispersa, Enterobacter cowanii, Pseudomonas putida biotype B, Serratia ficaria, Pantoae agglomerans and Rhizobium radiobacte were grow well at temperature 37°C, and only butanolivorans was grow well at a temperature up to 60°C. This finding is correlated with the work of Shrey [29]; he reported that maize seed endophytic bacteria exhibited tolerance to salinity (10%), and temperature up to 60°C. Thus, plant growth promoting traits of the endophytic bacterial species identified from tef seed is very important in climate change scenario with projections of increased intensities of a biotic stresses condition in near future posing problem to agricultural production and productivity.…”

Anticandidal Potential of Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Dryopteris Uniformis (Makino)

“…Several Bacillus species are remarkably important owing to their use in antibiotic construction and ability to induce production of anti-inflammatory cytokine in vitro (57)(58)(59). The use of Bacillus species to produce a wide range of metabolites having antimicrobial prospective is extensive in the medical and pharmaceutical industries; they can assist plant growth in adverse conditions and also capable of controlling many infections in humans, animals, and plants after applied as an organic control mediator (60)(61)(62).…”

Optimization of Fermentation Condition for Echinacoside Yield Improvement with Penicillium sp. H1, an Endophytic Fungus Isolated from Ligustrum lucidum Ait Using Response Surface Methodology

“…The leaves of L. lucidum Ait were collected from Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China in June 2017. Isolation of the endophytes was carried out according to previous methods with minor changes [ 39 ]. Leaves were cut into 1 × 1 cm 2 squares under aseptic conditions.…”