Recently, there has been a worldwide call to explore nature-friendly compounds, which could enhance plant growth and substitute for chemically synthesized products. Endophytes are group of microorganisms that lives in the plants and algae symbiotically. In this research, endophytes were isolated from leaves of Limonium axillare collected from Al-Thakheera and Qatar University protected area. Endophytes act as reservoirs for bioactive metabolites like steroids, tannins, alkaloids, and quinones, which serve as potential candidates for antibacterial and antifungal. Approximately, 60 different endophytic isolates were collected from naturally grown plants. Out of sixty strains, forty-eight isolated strains were identified using a sequence similarity-based method based on the 16S rDNA gene. Mostly identified as Bacillus spp. Several researchers have reported that bacterial endophytes promote the growth of the plant in different ways. For example, endophytes’ production of hormones and promoting plant growth showed the ability to solubilize phosphate. Some endophytes help in nitrogen fixation and provide nitrogen for their host plant. Plant growth-promoting endophytes (PGPE) express the enzyme 1- aminocyclopropane -1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase which is responsible for cleaving the ACC into α- ketobutyrate and ammonia and thus reduces ethylene levels in the host plant. Therefore, the main target of this research is to screen the endophytes that inhabitant inside Limonium axillare, identify them and then characterize the properties of these endophytes to investigate their potential applications.
Biography
Fedae Abdulsatar Alhaddad is a Ph.D. candidate at Qatar University in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in 2008, establishing a strong foundation for her academic journey.
In 2015, she earned her Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from Qatar University, with her thesis titled ‘The Evaluation of Salt Tolerance in Selected Qatari Halophytes at the Two Initial Growth Stages,’ showcasing her early commitment to addressing critical environmental challenges in the region.
Currently, Fedae Alhaddad is a Ph.D. candidate at Qatar University, where her research focuses on the isolation and applications of endophytes from Qatari halophytes. Her work is not only advancing our understanding of plant-microbe interactions but also holds the potential to contribute significantly to sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation in the arid regions of the Middle East. Alhaddad’s commitment to innovative research and her academic journey underscores her passion for making a positive impact in the field of biological and environmental sciences.