Biodiversity and Antimicrobial Activity of Endophytic Fungi in Angelica sinensis

Abstract

ObjectiveTo systematically investigate the biodiversity, ecological distribution, and antimicrobial activities of the endophytic fungi in Angelica sinensis growing in several natural habitats in China. MethodsThe isolation, culture, and identification of microorganism and mycelium growth inhibition test were adopted, and the relative data were analyzed by the statistical methods. ResultsA total of 206 isolates of endophytic fungi representing 22 species were collected at different time periods from A. sinensis in three locations. Melanconiaceae (45.1%) was the most prevalent followed by Dematiaceae (34.0%), mycelia sterilia (17.0%), Tuberculariaceae (2.9%), Moniliaceae (0.5%), and Leptostromataceae (0.5%). The main genera were Gongromella Ribaldi, Coniosporieae Lk. ex Fr., Fusella Sacc., Myxormia B. ex Br., Ozonium Lk. ex Fr., Pestalotia de Not., Phacodium Pers. ex Wallr., and Sphaceloma de Barry. Endophytes from the samples of Min county showed more diversity, percentage colonization, and species richness compared to other two locations. Endophytic colonization frequency was also greater in Min county (56.5%) than those in Heqing county (29.5%) and Baoxing county (17.0%). As to endophytic community in different plant tissues, the maximum endophytes species richness and diversity appeared in root tissues rather than in stem and leaf tissues from each location. Leaf samples were colonized by greater numbers of endophytes relative to the stem and root samples of the same location. Antimicrobial assay of the 206 endophytes showed that 20% was capable of inhibiting plant pathogenic fungi and eight strains displayed strong inhibition. ConclusionEndophytic fungi isolated from A. sinensis are specific in location, tissue, and season, and diverse in species. They are potential sources of antimicrobial agents which might improve the stress resistance and growth of this medicinal plant and play the important biological functions in ecosystem. Therefore, endophytic fungi will explore a new way to control plant diseases and develop healthful Chinese crude drugs.