Endolichenic Fungi: A Case Study from Uttarakhand

Abstract

Uttarakhand have prolific lichen diversity and a lot of studies regarding lichen diversity were preformed but studies on endolichenic fungi started in the recent past not only in Uttarakhand but in India also. The authors started working on endolichenic fungi in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. We studied the seasonal variation, the similarities between the diversity of endolichenic fungi and the endophytes of host tree on which the lichen thallus was growing and diversity of secondary metabolites isolated from endolichenic fungi and their antimicrobial potential. This chapter documents a case study on endolichenic fungi from Uttarakhand and reveals the presence of 42 species belonging to Dothediomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Leotiomycetes, Sordariomycetes and Zygomycetes. Ten species of fungi (Acremonium lichenicola, Bipolaris australiensis, Nigrospora sphaerica, Papulospora sp., Pestalotiopsis maculans, Rhizoctonia sp., Sordaria fimicola, Spegazzinia tessarthra, Trichophyton roseum and Xylaria hypoxylon) were documented originally as endolichenic fungi in this study. The study also revealed that some endolichenic fungi are specific (Spegazzinia tessarthra, Nigrosporaoryzae, Pestalotiopsis maculans, Sordaria fimicola, Rhizoctonia sp.) while others are generalized (Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium solani). Among crop pathogens X. campestris was found to be the most susceptible and R. solanacearum the most resistant pathogen. Among human pathogens E. coli and S. typhimurium were found to be equally susceptible while P. aeruginosa the most resistant pathogen. Among all pathogens, extract of Aspergillus niger came out as a broad spectrum antibiotic. Three strains of mycelia sterilia (A01, D31 and E48) showed moderate antimicrobial activity.