Vol. 10, Issue 8 (2021)

Author(s):
Sachin Jain, RK Sharma, Vidhi Gautam, K Shrman, Arpita Shrivastav and Alka Sawarkar

Abstract:
The present study was conducted for morphological characterization and detection of extracellular hydrolytic enzyme activity of endophytic bacteria isolated from Aegle marmelos i.e. common Indian plant Bael. In this study, total fifteen bacterial isolates of Aegle marmelos leaves of which were collected from three different areas of Jabalpur viz. Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (J.N.K.V.V), Tropical Forest Research Institute (T.F.R.I.), State Forest Research Institute (S.F.R.I), Jabalpur. Five bacterial isolates were collected from the leaves of Bael of each area. All fifteen bacterial isolates were identified by morphological and enzymatic activity tests. Growth characteristics of endophytic bacteria isolated from Aegle marmelos on King’s B media showed that 60 per cent of isolates were irregular in shape while 40 per cent were circular in shape, 73.33 per cent showed flat elevation on petriplate while 26.67 per cent were of raised elevation, margin of 73.33 per cent colonies were undulated while 26.67 per cent showed entire, the surface of the growth was smooth for the undulated colonies and 80 per cent growth were opaque and white in colour. The endophytic bacteria isolated from Aegle marmelos were evaluated for the presence of active hydrolytic enzymes including cellulase, amylase and protease. No cellulolytic, amylolytic and proteolytic activity was observed as there was no clearing of zones in agar plates observed for the endophytic bacterial isolates of Aegle marmelos.