The diversity of bacterial endophytes from L and their plant beneficial traits.

This study reports the diversity of cultivable endophytic bacteria associated with yellow iris ( L.) by using 16S rRNA gene analysis and their plant beneficial traits. The 16S rRNA sequence similarities of endophytic bacteria isolated from the leaves and roots of yellow iris showed that the isolates belonged to the genera and . The endophytic bacteria HRT18, HRT8, HRT13, and HST13 exhibited antimicrobial activity against five plant pathogenic fungi and . They also demonstrated the capability to produce chitinase, protease, glucanase, lipase, HCN, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Thirteen isolates (46%) produced IAA, and the most active IAA producers were , and . The IAA producing bacterial isolates stimulated root and shoot growth of garden cress. Our findings suggest that medicinal plants could be a promising source for isolating plant-beneficial bacteria that can be used to enhance the growth and protect plants against soil-borne pathogens.