Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Serratia sp. ZoB14 Protecting Ginger from Fungal Pathogens

Soft rot caused by Pythium sp. is a major challenge to the cultivation of Zingiber officinale Rosc. (Ginger). In the present study, endophytic Serratia sp. ZoB14 isolated from ginger rhizome was found to have inhibitory effect towards Pythium myriotylum and also against other pathogens. This was confirmed by dual culture and scanning electron microscopic analysis. Further, ZoB14 was identified to have the presence of aminopyrrolnitrin oxidase gene involved in the biosynthesis of pyrrolnitrin. The rhizome bacterization with ZoB14 has revealed its protective effect to ginger from Pythium infection. In addition, the organism was observed to have the presence of an array of plant growth promoting traits with in vivo growth enhancement effect on Vigna unguiculata seedlings. Even though Serratia species have previously been reported for antifungal properties, its plant growth supportive features and isolation from rhizome of ginger make the study highly significant.