Isolation and Identification of Salt-Tolerant Mangrove Endophyte from Red Sea Coast Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The aim of the study was to isolate and identify the most salt-tolerant endophytic bacteria from the mangrove plants (Avicennia marina) from the Red Sea Jeddah coastal region. In total, 21 endophytic bacteria were isolated from various parts of Avicennia marina cultured under various salt concentrations in laboratory conditions. Out of 21 endophytes, one isolate was selected based on its salt tolerance capacity, the isolate was identified as Bacillus halotolerans using 16S rRNA sequencing. The nucleotide sequence has been deposited under accession number MT858957. Bacillus halotolerans ymk 021 grows under high salinity and temperature. In response to high salinity stress (550 mM) mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) treated with B. halotolerans ymk021 showed significant results in morphological characteristics like fresh root and shoot weight, dry root and shoot weight, and root and shoot length. The ability of this salt-tolerant bacterial endophyte to produce antioxidants in plant may also resolve the major issue of oxidative damage during salinity stress. It may produce antibiotics, essential industrial enzymes too.