Current Bioactive Compounds

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Abstract:

Background and Objectives: Endophytic bacteria colonize inside the plant tissues without causing damages to the host plant. Since these microorganisms colonize in the different parts of plants and can stop plant disease, they have been applied as biological agents for controlling human diseases. The aim of this study was isolation, molecular identification, metabolites profiling, biochemical testing and evaluating the antifungal activity of endophytic bacteria isolated from medicinal plant Echinacea purpurea of the Himalayan region. Materials and Methods: The plant leaf, root, flower petal and stem samples of Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) were collected, sterilized, and crushed. Crushed samples were then cultured directly on the nutrient agar media. Grown isolate colonies were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing method followed by BLAST. Each isolate was cultured in LB medium and then antifungal compounds was extracted using ethyl acetate and tested against the target fungal strains. Metabolites profiling was done using GC-MS and biochemical tests were performed. Results: 6 out of 16 bacterial isolates exhibited antimicrobial activity against the selected pathogenic fungi, such as Alternaria, Aspergillus, etc. 3 bacterial endophytes were identified as Herbaspirillium and Pantoea genus. Metabolites responsible for antifungal activity such as 1-Heptadecene, 1-Nonadecene were analysed using GC-MS. Biochemical tests detected the IAA production, phosphate solubilisation, siderophore production, N2 fixation and ACC deaminase activity. Conclusion: Our Study showed a high antimicrobial potential of endophytic bacteria in selected medicinal plant E. purpurea. The isolates perform a great biocontrol and biofertilizer benefits to the host plant.