Isolation endophytic bacteria from elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum schumach) and their potential application

Abstract

       In this study, 25 endophytic bacteria were isolated and purified from rhizome, stem and leaf of the elephantgrass, which were tested for their biological control properties. The number of living and dead brown plant hopperswere recorded and the mortality rate was analyzed by using Abbott's formula. The results indicated that threeendophytic bacteria including VBL1, VBT1 and VBT5 showed the highest biological control of Nilaparvata lugensat the mortality rate 46.95%, 55.02% and 55.02%, respectively after 8 days of screening and significant differencecompared to other isolates (P<0.05). Additionally, insecticidal activity of three bacterial isolates were conducted atdifferent concentrations (106, 107, 108 CFU/ mL) and we found that the highest mortality rate of brown plant hopperwas significantly observed at 108 CFU/ mL for VBL1, VBT1 and VBT5 isolates after 10 days trial (P<0.05). Threedifferent isolates VBL1, VBT1 and VBT5 were similar to Bacillus pumilus (VBT1 and VBT5), Bacillusthuringensis (VBL1). This result plays an important role in understanding endophytic bacteria from elephant grassfor biological control brown plant hopper in the future.