Genome sequencing of endophytic bacterial species associated with Datura stramonium and Sida acuta

Abstract

Background: Endophytes are ubiquitous microbes that colonize plants’ tissues without causing any harm to the host plants, but rather, they confer several adaptable characteristics on them. They could be of bacterial, fungal, algal, archaeal and actinomycetes origins. Endophytes also produce useful bioactive metabolites some of which are potent antimicrobials. In this study, bacterial endophytes were isolated from the leaves of Datura stramonium and Sida acuta, both of which are important medicinal plants. Methodology: Freshly cut leaves were collected, rinsed and sequentially sterilized. The sterilized leaves were then cut into smaller pieces and incubated onto extract-seeded nutrient agar medium augmented with antifungal drug. Pure distinct bacterial colonies were morphologically and biochemically characterized. Molecular characterization of the strains was done using the 16S rRNA while phylogenetic evolutionary analysis was carried out using the maximum likelihood method and Tamura-Nei model with MEGA 11 software.Results: A total of 7 bacterial endophytes were isolated and identified, 3 from D. stramonium and 4 from S. acuta. 16S rDNA genome sequencing of the strains revealed thatisolates from D. stramonium were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Atlantibacter hermannii and Enterobacter roggenkampiiwhile those isolatedfrom S. acuta were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas monteilii, Enterobacter pseudoroggenkampii and Aeromonas veronii. Conclusion: The outcome of this research has indicated that numerous strains of endophytic bacteria inhabit leaves of plants. It is therefore essential to exploit these endophytic bacteria for their potentials to produce bioactive metabolites and other valuable antimicrobial products.