Potential plant benefits of endophytic microorganisms associated with halophyte <i>Glycyrrhiza glabra</i> L.
Abstract
<p>In this study, bacteria associated with licorice (<italic>Glycyrrhiza glabra</italic> L.) were characterized through 16S rRNA gene analysis. Profiling of endophytic bacteria isolated from <italic>Glycyrrhiza glabra</italic> tissues revealed 18 isolates across the following genera: <italic>Enterobacter</italic> (4), <italic>Pantoea</italic> (3), <italic>Bacillus</italic> (2), <italic>Paenibacillus</italic> (2), <italic>Achromobacter</italic> (2), <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> (1), <italic>Escherichia</italic> (1), <italic>Klebsiella</italic> (1), <italic>Citrobacter</italic> (1), and <italic>Kosakonia</italic> (1). Furthermore, the beneficial features of bacterial isolates for plants were determined. The bacterial isolates showed the capacity to produce siderophores, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), chitinase, protease, glucanase, lipase, and other enzymes. Seven bacterial isolates showed antagonistic activity against <italic>F. culmorum</italic>, <italic>F. solani</italic>, and <italic>R. solani</italic>. According to these results, licorice with antimicrobial properties may serve as a source for the selection of microorganisms that have antagonistic activity against plant fungal pathogens and may be considered potential candidates for the control of plant pathogens. The selected bacterial isolates, <italic>P. polymyxa</italic> GU1, <italic>A. xylosoxidans</italic> GU6, <italic>P. azotoformans</italic> GU7, and <italic>P. agglomerans</italic> GU18, increased root and shoot growth of licorice and were able to colonize the plant root. They can also serve as an active part of bioinoculants, improving plant growth.</p>