Effects of Tapping the Styrax paralleloneurus Tree on Indole-3-Acetic Acid Production by the Endophytic Bacterium Kocuria palustris

Abstract

The Toba frankincense tree (Styrax paralleloneurus) is valued for its high-quality resin, which is traditionally extracted through stem tapping.This practice induces plant defense mechanisms and may influence the activity of endophytic bacteria, particularly their ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a key phytohormone involved in plant growth.Although the economic and taxonomic aspects of frankincense trees have been well studied, their microbial associations remain underexplored.The aim of this study was to compare IAA production and the characteristics and abundances of endophytic bacteria isolated from tapped and untapped S. paralleloneurus.Bacterial isolates were obtained, macroscopically characterized, assessed for IAA production, and taxonomically identified.The results revealed a higher diversity and abundance of endophytes in tapped trees (17 isolates) than in untapped trees (7 isolates).Furthermore, isolates from tapped trees exhibited significantly higher IAA production (14.44ppm) than the isolates from untapped trees (1.13ppm).The highest IAA-producing isolate was identified as Kocuria palustris, highlighting the potential role of tapping in fostering beneficial plant-microbe interactions.These findings suggest that tapping may alter the microbial ecology of S. paralleloneurus by enhancing tree growth and resilience.

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