Effect of Ferulic Acid on the Colony Growth and Cell Reproduction of the Endophytic Bacterial Strain Bacillus subtilis 26D

Under stressful conditions, including infection with phytopathogens, plants produce various compounds that are growth activators, e.g., hydroxycinnamic acids (HAs), including ferulic acid (FA). The role of HAs in the relationship of plants and endophytic bacteria has not been studied in detail. The effect of FA at a concentration of 1.0–1000 μg/L on the reproduction and growth of the endophytic strain Bacillus subtilis 26D on agar and liquid media has been studied. It was found that FA suppressed and, at a lower concentration (0.7%), increased the size of bacterial colonies on an 1.5% agar medium. In a liquid medium, FA stimulated the multiplication of bacterial cells. It was shown that bacteria of the strain B. subtilis 26D are capable of FA destruction.