Anti-vibrio potential of bacterial and fungal endophytes isolated from Datura metel

Abstract

Bacterial and fungal endophytes were isolated and characterized from root and shoot of Datura metel and studied for their antimicrobial properties. Molecular identification of the endophytes, both bacteria and fungi were done using 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA sequencing, respectively. Out of the total bacterial endophytes, Bacillus subtilis was predominant in both the tissues. Of the nine fungal endophytes isolated both from root and shoot, Aspergillus versicolor was found to be dominant. These two dominant species of endophytes, B. subtilis and A. versicolor, were subjected to mass multiplication, and secondary metabolites extraction of the host plant endophytes were performed using solvents of different polarity. The respective extracts were then studied for their antimicrobial activity against different Vibrio cholerae strains. Both bacterial and fungal extracts showed impressive activity against the V. cholerae strains P5, NE2 and VC7233.