# Characterization of Desertihabitans sp. FB5, a halophyte associated Actinomycetes producing phytohormones

## TL;DR

This paper studies a salt-tolerant bacterium from a halophyte plant that produces antimicrobial and plant-growth-promoting compounds.

## Contribution

The study identifies Desertihabitans sp. FB5 as a halophyte-associated bacterium producing phytohormones and antimicrobial metabolites.

## Key findings

- Desertihabitans sp. FB5 showed weak-to-moderate antifungal activity against several pathogenic fungi.
- The strain produced bioactive compounds including bacitracin, IAA, and GA3.
- The bacterium exhibited cellulolytic and lipolytic enzyme activities.

## Abstract

Halophytes are remarkable plants that have evolved unique strategies to thrive in saline environments. Microbial communities of
halophytes are being studied extensively as potential sources of bioactive compounds. Therefore, it is of interest to identify the
secondary metabolites of the rhizospheric bacterial Desertihabitans sp. FB5 from the halophyte Salsola
Imbricata. Strain Desertihabitans sp. FB5 was identified using a molecular technique (16S rDNA) and showed a
similarity of 99% to Desertihabitans aurantiacus CPCC 204711T. Antifungal activity of the strain was tested against five different
pathogenic fungi: Fusarium moniliforme, Altenaria mali, Magnaporthe grisea,
Phytophthora capsici and Pythium ultimum in an in vitro assay. Desertihabitans
sp. FB5 showed weak-to-moderate inhibition of different pathogenic fungi tested in the inhibitory assay. The production of
lytic enzymes was evaluated using different enzymatic activities. Desertihabitans sp. FB5 was positive for both
cellulolytic and lipolytic activities. To detect bioactive metabolites, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid
chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were performed. Both analyses showed the presence of the antimicrobial compound bacitracin and
phytohormones, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Gibberellin A3 (GA3) in the culture extracts of strain. Our results demonstrated that
halophytes are recognised as key source of potent bacterial strains capable of producing metabolites of industrial and medical
significance.