827-833Rubber plantations are known to udergo various biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the symbiotic bacterial endophytes
that inhabit them provide protection. Here, we isolated bacterial endophytes from the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis (Willd.
ex A.Juss.) Müll.Arg. and studied their antagonistic activity against major pathogens such as Phytophthora meadii,
Corynespora cassiicola and Corticium salmonicolar. The antifungal metabolites such as HCN, siderophores and salicylic
acid were produced by the antagonistic endophytes under in vitro conditions. Bioassay showed the growth promotion by a
consortium of selected antagonistic endophytes in H. brasiliensis seedlings. The photosynthetic efficiency of seedlings
increased after endophyte inoculation. Endophyte-treated plants showed accumulation of starch granules in root tissues. The
selected antagonistic isolates belong to Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. The study revealed the biocontrol and growth
promoting potential of bacterial endophytes from H. brasiliensis