Isolation and characterization of endophytic bacteria from Scindapsus treubii growing in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, and their activities to promote capsicum seedling growth
1Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia. 2Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia. Corresponding e-mail: krisantini@apps.ipb.ac.id
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2026.v28i02.71
Endophytic microorganisms have significant potential as natural bio-inputs for improving plant health. The research aimed to isolate and purify bacteria collected from Scindapsus treubii grown in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, to evaluate their potential to enhance the early growth of capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) seedlings, and to measure the growth-promoting compounds and phosphate-solubilizing abilities of these bacteria. A total of 56 endophytic bacteria were successfully isolated and subjected to pathogenicity and haemolysis tests, and the selected isolates were tested for their ability to produce auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) and to solubilize phosphate. Eighteen isolates were collected from Scindapsus plant tissues; one isolate produced the highest indole-3-acetic acid level of 16.96 µg/mL. Two isolates, B10 and B22, significantly increased the length of capsicum seedling shoots and roots compared to the control. However, none of the 18 isolates exhibited phosphate-solubilizing capability. These findings demonstrate that some bacterial isolates from Scindapsus grown in the natural habitat in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, have potential as biostimulants to improve the early growth quality of capsicum seeds. Identification of the bacterial isolates using 16S rRNA primers 27F (5’-AGA-GTT-TGA-TCM-TGG-CTC-AG-3’) and 1492R (5’-AC-CTT-GTT-ACG-ACT-T-3’) revealed that of 18 isolates, six are affiliated with the genera Priestia, Azospirillum, Bacillus, Roseomonas, and Curtobacterium. However, further confirmation is required with polyphasic approaches. These findings are important for the early identification and characterization of endophytic microorganisms that may exhibit pathogenic potential or provide beneficial effects to crops.
