First Report of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria from Medicinal Invasive Plants (Chromolaena odorata)

Abstract

Abstract Ki rinyuh (Chromolaena odorata) is one of invasive plants species in Indonesia with potency as traditional medicine. The purpose of this study was to verify the presence of endophytic bacteria symbionts with Chromolaena odorata, and to evaluate the plant-growth promoting properties of endophytic bacteria in producing IAA, producing hydrolytic enzymes (α-amylase, β-amylase, cellulase, chitinase, protease) solubilizing phosphate. Isolation of endophytic bacteria was carried out by surface sterilizing the samples of roots, stems, leaves with 70% alcohol and 2% sodium hypochlorite, followed by direct plating of organ parts (1-2 cm) on top of Trypticase Soy Agar (TSA) medium. Bacterial isolates were differentiated through morphological biochemical characterization. A total of 19 endophytic bacteria were successfully recovered from Chromolaena odorata roots, stems and leaves. Four isolates produced the highest IAA, namely BECA1 (109 ± 0.98 ppm), BECA5 (104.13 ± 0.32 ppm), BECA8 (104.13 ± 0.71 ppm) and BECB3 (83.29 ± 0.47 ppm). Three isolates exhibit the highest phosphate solubilization (+++) namely BECA5, BECA1, BECA8 after 4 days of incubation. Furthermore, BECB3 produced a considerable hydrolytic enzyme activities: β-amylase (+++), α-amylase (++), cellulase (+++), chitinase (++) and protease (+++) compared to other isolates. Our result may provide an insight upon the beneficial interaction by plant-growth promoting endophytic bacteria to support the invasiveness of the plant.