Isolation, screening and characterization of endophytic bacteria from root of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) for different plant growth promotion (PGP) activities: An in-vitro study

Abstract

Endophytic bacteria are ubiquitous in most plant species influencing the host fitness by disease suppression, contaminant degradation, and plant growth promotion. In the present study, an endophytic bacterium has been isolated from root of Finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.)) and screened for different plant growth promoting activities viz. Phosphate solubilization, Nitrogen fixation, Indole acetic acid IAA production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. The results showed that out of 30 endophytic isolates 7 isolate showed phosphate solubilization activity, 2 isolates showed nitrogen fixing activity, 4 isolates showed IAA production activity and 9 isolates showed ACC deaminase activity. On the basis of In vitro efficacy, isolate EP 6 showed phosphate solubilization, IAA production and ACC deaminase activity whereas, EP 17 showed nitrogen fixation, IAA production and ACC deaminase activity. Two most potent isolates were characterized and identified as Bacillus subtilis (EP 6) and Achromobacter xylosoxidans (EP 17) as per BIOLOG on the basis of biochemical tests.