Molecular identification of citrus endophytic bacteria in the east of guilan provience

This research was conducted to identify endophytic bacteria over five-year old citrus trees in the east of Guilan province. A total of 63 endophytic bacteria were isolated from symptomless leaves of Citrus aurantium, Citrus sinensis, Citrus sinensis var. thomson, Citrus unshiu, Citrus limon, Fortunella margarita and Citrus medica. The isolates were grouped based on colony type and color. Then the morphological and biochemical characteristics of the six isolates were assessed as candidate of different groups. According to the molecular studies and phylogenetic analyses of 16srRNA region these isolates were identified as Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus cereus, Arthrobacter agilis, Acinetobacter junii and Pseudomonas azotoformans species. . Among them, three species including A. agilis, A. junii and P. azotoformans are reported as citrus endophytic bacteria from Iran and the world for the first time. The morphological, biochemical, molecular and phylogenetical analyses are able to differentiate genus and species of the endophyte isolates.