Identification of endophytes endospore-forming bacteria associated to Theobroma cacao L. in Quininde, Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Abstract

The aim of this work was to characterize morphologically, physiologically and molecularly endophytic endospore-forming bacteria associated to Theobroma cacao (cv. Criollo type National) in Quininde canton, Esmeraldas province, Ecuador. The bacteria were characterized from the cultural, morphological and physiological point of view according to methodologies collected in the scientific literature. The confirmation of the identity of the bacteria was made from the sequencing of the gene encoding 16S rRNA. As results, all the strains showed cultural, morphological and physiological characteristics similar to the Bacillus genus. The sequencing confirmed the previous criteria and the main species identified were Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus mycoides and Bacillus cereus with 99 % similarity; while other strains did not produce an optimal consensus sequence, remaining as Bacillus sp.

Keywords

• bacillus spp.
• cocoa
• characterization