Identification of endophytic bacteria in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and their effect on plant growth*

Five endophytic bacteria were isolated from healthy chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants by surface-disinfestation method and identified based on morphological, physiological and biochemical tests. Erwinia herbicola and Enterobacter agglomerans, which had nitrate-solubilizing ability, were isolated from the root endosphere and Bacillus megaterium, B. circulans and one unidentified species of Bacillus were isolated from the leaf and stem tissues. None of the isolates had phosphate-solubilizing ability. All the isolates tolerated a wide range of pH and exhibited growth from pH 5 to 9. B. circulans and E. agglomerans tolerated an alkaline pH of 11, which is unusual. Higher growth promotion was noticed in chickpea plants treated with B. megaterium, E. agglomerans and Bacillus sp. and the plants treated with endophytes survived well in the presence of the wilt pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani. Seedlings from seeds treated with bacteria showed an increase in phenol content up to sixth day after Inoculation. The maximum phenol content (483.33μg g⁻¹) was noticed in B. megaterium treated and the lowest (246.67μg g⁻¹) was in control. Endophytic bacteria from healthy plant tissue could play a useful role In plant protection.