Wonders of Endophyte: Plant Growth Enhancement of Capsicum annum L. by Aleo vera endophytes

ABSTRACT: Endophytes are microorganisms, typically bacteria or fungi that live inside the tissues of plants without causing harm to the host. These microorganisms can reside in various plant parts like leaves, stems, and roots. Endophytes play a significant role in plant health and can contribute to a plant’s adaptation to the environment, eventually contributing to plant growth promotion. These microbes play direct and indirect roles (stress tolerance, disease resistance, root development, structure improvement) in plant growth promotion. Conventional chemical fertilizers restoring agroecosystem. Endophytes of Medicinal plants have been least explored for their potential use in agriculture. In the current study, we have focused on plant growth promotion by endophytic bacterial isolate ART-6 isolated from Aloe vera roots on the growth of Capsicum annum (commonly known as Chilli plant) variety111. An inoculum of bacteria showing good plant growth-promoting attributes in vitro was prepared and applied on seeds by seed coating method. In the current study, ART 6 shows good plant growth promotion and fruit development in treated plants compared to control plants. In seed germination, we have seen 16% increase in endophyte ART-6 coated seeds as compared to control. At the pot study level, plants grown from coated seeds are showing 102.02% increase in the number of fruits compared to control Chilli plants.