Philippine E-Journals

Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Nipa Palm (Nypa fruticans) in Bulacan, Philippines

Jayvee A. Cruz | Mea Katreena M. Cadiente | Truong Hoai Xuan | Eufemio Rasco Jr.

Discipline: Ecology

 

Abstract:

The nipa (Nypa fruticans) environment has limited nutrients along with soil salinity, but sustainably high productivity is observed for this palm. Its productivity is supported by indefinite mechanisms for its fertility maintenance, in which symbiotic microbes are involved. In this study, screening of endophytic bacteria examined their multiple plant growth-promoting traits. These include the production of indole acetic acid (IAA), phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and starch hydrolysis as potential microbial inoculants to upland rice. Twelve endophytic bacterial strains were isolated from nipa palm in Bulacan, Philippines. All bacterial isolates produced IAA in culture. Ten of the 12 isolates dissolved precipitated tricalcium phosphate as shown by clearing zones around isolates grown in Pikovskaya’s medium. Five isolates were nitrogen-fixing bacteria while four hydrolyzed starch. Promising bacteria will be selected from the 12 isolates for further study. Other researchers have proven the ability of Burkholderia, bacteria isolated from nipa palm to endophytically colonize rice, promoting both plant growth and rice grain yield. Hence, it is possible that the isolated endophytic bacteria from nipa palm may also act as plant growth enhancers to other crops including rice.