The Effect of Endophytic Bacteria LKM2 & LKM3 On The Growth of Chili Seedlings

Abstract

The current agriculture industry is facing issues regarding the use and the effect of chemical pesticides and fertilizer in large-scale agricultural production on both human health and the environment. To avoid this issue, the use of endophytic bacteria as a biofertilizer has emerged as a possible alternative. These bacteria are able to benefit the host plant by producing important metabolites and enhancing the nutrient cycle while maintaining the symbiotic relationship with the host plant. This study explored the effect of dual culture endophytic bacteria LKM2 and LKM3 isolated from Theobroma cacao L., on the growth of chili seedlings (Capsicum frutescens and Capsicum annuum) and determined the indole-3-acetic acid, IAA production by dual culture LKM2 and LKM3.