Endophytic actinomycetes isolated from Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lec and screening of plant growth promoters production

A total of 10 endophytic actinomycete strains were successfully isolated from healthy shoots and roots of Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lec (eaglewood). Analysis of 16S rDNA sequencing of those isolates showed that they belong to members of the genera Streptomyces (2 isolates), Nonomuraea (1 isolate), Actinomadura (1 isolate), Pseudonocardia (1 isolate) and Nocardia (3 isolates). The remaining 2 isolates were unidentified. All of isolates produced the amount of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and ammonia ranging between 9.85 ± 0.31 to 15.14 ± 0.22 μg ml−1 and 2 to 60 mg ml−1, respectively. Among 10 isolates tested, the amount of hydroxamate-type siderophore produced by 2 isolates was undetectable. While the remaining 8 isolates produced the amount of hydroxamate-type ranging between 3.21 ± 0.12 and 39.30 ± 0.40 μg ml−1. Also, catechols-type siderophore produced by 9 isolates was undetectable. Actinomadura glauciflava is only one isolate that produced catechols-type 4.12 ± 0.90 μg ml−1. In addition, 10 endophytic actinomycetes showed protease activity ranging from undetectable to 8.16 ± 0.15 unit ml−1. Genetic relatedness amongst these isolates was determined base on Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC PCR). Both methodologies generated specific patterns corresponding to particular genotypes. RAPD fingerprinting proved to be slightly more discriminatory than ERIC PCR. This study is the first published report that actinomycetes can be isolated as endophytes within this plant. It is also the first published report that endophytic actinomycetes are capable of producing IAA and siderophores.