Screening and characterization of biosurfactant producing novel marine bacteria Bacillus tequilensis KM 15 and its application for plant growth promotion

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Mjm Basha, S., Noorjahan, A., Karuppaiya, M., Mahesh.S ,Aiyamperumal,B

Abstract

Biosurfactants are a class of surface-active secondary metabolites produced by a wide range of microorganisms. The current study is aimed at isolating bacteria from different marine water samples, screening for biosurfactant activity, characterizing them, and investigating traits for plant growth promotion. Fifty morphologically distinct bacteria were isolated from various marine water samples using the enrichment culture method. Ten isolates were chosen and further screened for plant probiotic properties such as indole acetic acid production, biofilm formation, and antifungal activities based on biosurfactant activity [penetration assay, microplate assay, oil-displacement method, emulsification assay (EA), and emulsification index (EI%)]. Among the ten isolates tested, Bacillus sp. KM15 demonstrated good EI (68.7) percent and EA (210), as well as high indole acetic acid production, biofilm formation, and antifungal activity (75%). The bacterial isolate KM15 has shown high biosurfactant production, yielding 340 mg L-1. With the aid of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, isolate KM15 was identified as Bacillus tequilensis.

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