Diversity and functional characterization of endophytic Methylobacterium isolated from banana cultivars of South India and its impact on early growth of tissue culture banana plantlets.

This study extended our knowledge on the distribution of Methylobacterium spp. in banana plants and endophytic colonization nature of this particular genus in plants. In addition, efficient isolate (M. salsuginis TNMB03) identified in this study may be promoted as bio-inoculants for banana plants after field evaluation.