Abstract

Endophytic bacteria isolated from shoot tip cultures of banana ‘Tropical’ and ‘Galil 18’ were identified at the genera and species levels by means of the profile of fatty acids test through gas chromatography and the potential of plant growth promotion of micropropagated ‘Prata Anã’ banana plantlets was evaluated. A completely randomized experimental design in a factorial scheme 2 × 9, with two immersion periods (30 and 60 min), eight isolates (endophytic bacteria) plus control (saline solution; 0.85% sodium chloride) with seven replications was used. The plantlets were cultured under greenhouse conditions and the evaluations were performed at 24 (DAP₁) and 48 (DAP₂) days after planting. The isolates of endophytic bacteria affected significantly pseudostem height, number of leaves and pseudostem diameter. Five isolates: 03, 05, 06, 07 and 08 showed percentages of increment index over 20% for pseudostem height. Among them, the isolate 07, Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumoniae showed the highest increment indices: 27.48, 13.68 and 13.55% for pseudostem height, number of leaves and pseudostem diameter, respectively. The results show the potential use of K. pneumoniae pneumoniae (Isolate 07) for growth promotion in micropropagated ‘Prata Anã’ banana plantlets.

Key words: Musa sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumoniae, plant growth promoting bacteria.