Isolation, Identification and Characterisation of Endophytic Bacteria in Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC

Abstract

The harmless immigration of endophytic microflora in plants and their ability to synthesize various valuable compounds has attracted many researchers to work with plant-microbe interactions and also to exploit them for agricultural and medical applications. This investigation has been carried out to study endophytic bacteria in Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC by the isolation, characterization and identification based on morphological features, cell characteristics, biochemical tests, plant growth promotion, 16S rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Five different bacterial isolates were identified from this study using BLAST analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences and were submitted in GenBank followed by retrieval of accession numbers. The identified bacteria with their accession numbers are Staphylococcus sp. strain (MH050396); Bacillus sp. strain (MH050388); Bacillus cereus strain (MH050384); Bacillus subtilis strain (MH050389) and Bacillus sp. strain (MH050399). All isolates except Bacillus sp. strain (MH050399) produced Indole -3-acetic acid and the highest amount of 14.50µg/ml was obtained from Bacillus subtilis strain (MH050389). All bacterial endophytes reported in this study produced ammonia and siderophore thus indicating their role in plant growth promotion.

A current study on pharmacology and phytochemistry of biophytum sensitivum

“…Some folk medicine systems, such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Chinese, rely on secondary metabolites, particularly bioactive compounds in plants [1]. Traditionally, the plant has been used to treat joint pain, inflammation, fever, malaria, wounds, stomach ache, diabetes, gonorrhoea, tuberculosis, cough, and convulsions [2] The highly valuable medicinal herb Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC, which belongs to the Daspushpam category of ayurvedically essential plants in the Oxalidaceae family, is widely used in Ayurveda [3]. This plant grows in the tropical regions of South Asia, Africa, and Madagascar, and is also recognized as the life plant, little tree plant, and sensitive plant.…”