Endophytic bacteria from banana cultivars and their antifungal activity.

Endophytic microorganisms consist of fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes that play important roles in the process of plant adaptation to the environment. Currently, the natural associations between microorganisms and plant species are being explored for a large number of biotechnological applications. In this study, 122 endophytic bacteria were isolated from 5 cultivars of Musa spp from the state of Amazonas (Brazil). Four strains were selected because they exhibited antagonistic activities against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense and Colletotrichum guaranicola, with inhibitions ranging from 19 to 30% and 27 to 35%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA regions of these bacteria with antifungal activity showed that they are phylogenetically related to 3 different species of Bacillus - B. amyloliquefaciens, B. subtilis subsp subtilis, and B. thuringiensis.