CHARACTERISATION OF POTENTIAL PLANT GROWTH PROPERTIES OF SOME BACTERIAL ENDOPHYTES ISOLATED FROM THE ROOT OF HOLY BASIL (Ocimum sanctum L.)

Abstract

Bacterial endophytes can offer several benefits to the host plant, particularly growth promotion as phytohormone biosynthesis, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production and stimulation of nutrient adsorption and increase of pathogen resistance of the host plant. In this study, 4 bacterial endophytic strains RH2.1, RH2.2, RH5.1 and RH5.2 isolated from roots of Ocimum sanctum L. and their plant growth-promoting properties were evaluated. All of them exhibited phosphate solubilizing ability, siderophore production and IAA-producing activity. At pH=7, the RH2.2 strain showed the highest ability in IAA production after 72 hours of the incubation period, at 30-35^oC in a culture medium with carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively glucose, lactose and peptone. These selected endophytic bacteria are potential materials for the production of bioproducts used in agriculture sustainable.