Microbial Diversity and Antimicrobial Properties of Endophytes from Murraya Koenigii

Abstract

Endophytic microorganisms, which form symbiotic associations by residing within plant tissues, are known of late for their bioactive compounds .This research aimed at harvesting the microbial diversity and antibacterial activity of endophytes associated with different parts of Murraya koenigii. A total of eight bacterial endophytic strains were isolated using standard isolation techniques and characterized morphologically and biochemically. Among them five were Gram positive, non-motile, non-spore forming bacilli and the remaining three were gram negative, motile, non-spore forming bacilli.

A total of eleven fungal endophytes were isolated from plant tissues, by colony and hyphal characters as stained by lactophenol they were identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus,Candida albicans, Phoma hedericola and Penicillium sublateritium.

Phytochemical screening exhibited Alkaloids, tannins and reducing sugars as the major constituents.  Antimicrobial activity was analysed using agar well diffusion method against standard pathogens, several isolates demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with notable inhibition zones and some showed limited or no activity.

These findings indicate that M. koenigii contains a broad spectrum of endophytes possessing useful antimicrobial activities with potential applications in pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology.