Bacillus siamensis CNE6- a multifaceted plant growth promoting endophyte of Cicer arietinum L. having broad spectrum antifungal activities and host colonizing potential.

Exploration of endophytic bacteria with multiple plant growth promoting (PGP) attributes is considered as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to agricultural chemicals for increasing crop productivity. In the present endeavor, healthy chickpea plants (Cicer arietinum L.) collected from district Birbhum, West Bengal, India were subjected for the isolation of endophytic bacteria having multifarious PGP properties. One potent endophytic Gram positive bacterial strain CNE6 was isolated from the nodule of chickpea and was identified as Bacillus siamensis based on 16S rDNA sequence homologies. The isolate showed a number of PGP properties like phosphate solubilization, IAA production, nitrogen fixation, hydroxamate type of siderophore production and ACC deaminase activities. The isolate CNE6 produced 33.27 ± 2.16 μg/mL of IAA in the presence of tryptophan. Production of IAA was also confirmed by HPLC analysis and it was found effective for inducing lateral root branching in chickpea. In addition, the isolate displayed significant antagonistic activity against a number of plant pathogenic fungi when tested by dual culture overlay and agar well diffusion assay. 50 % cell free supernatant of CNE6 was found effective for 60-80 % inhibition of radial growth of pathogenic fungi tested. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed massive degradation of pathogenic fungal mycelia by the antifungal metabolites of CNE6. LC-MS analysis of bacterial lipopeptides suggested the production of antifungal antibiotics like surfactin, fengycin and iturin by the isolate. The presence of genes encoding antifungal lipopeptides was also confirmed by PCR amplification using specific primers. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagging of CNE6 using broad host range plasmid vector (pDSK-GFPuv) followed by colonization study indicated very good host colonization potential of the isolate and its probable movement through xylem vessels. Enhanced shoot and root length and chlorophyll content upon treatment with CNE6 as observed in in vivo pot experiments also supported the positive role of the endophytic isolate on overall development and growth of the chickpea plants. This is the first report of Bacillus siamensis as an endophyte of Cicer arietinum L. which can be successfully applied for improving the productivity of this crop plant.