PROMISING BIOFERTILISING ENDOPHYTES AS HUMAN PATHOGENS SUPPRESSOR AGENTS

Despite the very good consideration regarding organic products, studies have shown that leafy vegetables can harbour various human pathogens. Preventive methods are the best way to reduce such risks and protect the quality and image of organic agricultural production. The aim of this study was to suppress important human pathogens, bacteria, and yeasts, by using selected plant beneficial endophytes. Results have showed that among 23 bacterial endophytes isolated from different plant species, some isolates revealed antimicrobial activity. Reference strains of Bacillus cereus and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus were inhibited by 34.8% of the isolated endophytes, while the methicillin-resistant strain of S. aureus was inhibited by 30.4% of the tested endophytes. Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella typhimurium were more reticent, and only 8.7% of the isolated endophytes were able to inhibit their growth. The pathogenic reference yeasts, Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis were inhibited by 17.4% and 21.7%, respectively of the isolated endophytes. In vitro results revealed certain strains of endophytic bacteria as potential inoculants, to provide not only plant growth promotion but also protection against important pathogenic contaminants.