Molecular Identification and Enzymatic Activities of Endophytic Bacteria of Ammannia Baccifera Grown at Hot Spring Area, Laith, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The diversity and beneficial characteristics of endophytic bacteria have been extensively studied in different plants. However, information regarding naturally occurring Ammannia baccifera plant associated endophytes grown in Hot spring area is limited. Twenty-two endophytic bacteria were isolated from root, stem, and leave of A. baccifera collected from Hot Spring area, AL-Lith city (Saudi Arabia). These bacterial endophytes isolates were identified by using morphological characteristics and partial sequencing of their 16S rDNA gene. The isolated endophytic bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas sp., Pantoeaste wartii, Enterobacter sp, Exiguobacterium sp, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Sphingomonas koreensis, Paenibacillus lautus, Alcaligenes faecalis and Bacillus paralicheniformis. In addition, the enzymatic activities of these bacterial endophytes were screened for degrading of the polysaccharides available in the host plant by using of simpler solid media permits the rapid screening of large populations of bacteria for the presence or absence of specific enzymes, such as cellulose, pectinase, amylase lipase, and protease. The endophytic bacterial isolates showed positive enzymatic production about 18% for cellullase, 81.8% for pectinase, 22.7% for amylase, 40.9% for lipase, and 68% for protease. Furthermore, Bacillus paralicheniformis exhibited the strongest activities among other strains in production of extracellular enzymes. The array of enzymes produced differs between endophytic bacteria and often depends on the host and their ecological factors.