ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PGPR ASSOCIATED WITH CAROB TREE (Ceratonia siliqua L.) IN MEKNES REGION, MOROCCO
R. EL KAHKAHI *
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Centre of Innovation and Transfer, University Moulay Ismail, Meknes, Morocco and Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences Meknes, Morocco and El Bassatine Domaine, Meknes, Morocco
A. MOUHAJIR
Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences Meknes, Morocco
M. MOUSTAINE
Laboratory of Bacteriology and Biological Control, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Meknes, Morocco
S. MOUHSINE EL HAYANI
Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences Meknes, Morocco
S. BACHIR
Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences Meknes, Morocco
S. OULGHAZI
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Moulay Ismaïl University, BP 11 201, Zitoune, Meknes 50000, Morocco
A. LEMRHARI
Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences Meknes, Morocco
R. ZOUHAIR
Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences Meknes, Morocco
M. AIT CHITT
El Bassatine Domaine, Meknes, Morocco
R. ERRAKHI *
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Centre of Innovation and Transfer, University Moulay Ismail, Meknes, Morocco
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria that colonize plant roots andenhance plant growth by a wide variety of mechanisms. The objective of the present study was to isolate, characterized and determine the antimicrobial enzymes produced by PGPR associated with rhizosphere of carob tree. A total of fifteen different bacteria colonies were isolated and proceed with in vitro screening for plant growth promoting activities; phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, indole acetic acid (IAA) content, exopolysaccharides content, ammonia production and antimicrobial enzymes (cellulose, chitinase and protease) activity. Among the fifteen bacterial strains, all bacterial strains are unable to produce ammonia, fifteen (100%) IAA production, three (20%) phosphate solubilizing activity, fourteen (93%) Exopolysaccharides production, seven (47%) nitrogen fixation activity, two (13%) cellulase syntheses, five (33%) Protease activity and one (7%) Chitinase activity.
Keywords: PGPR, indole acetic acid, phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, Carob and Morocco