Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the diversity of endophytic fungi of Aralia elata distributed in Northeast China as well as their capacity to produce saponins. Ninety-six strains of endophytic fungi were isolated, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing were employed to identify the isolates. The saponin concentrations of the culture filtrates of representative strains were measured. The agar diffusion method was used to test antimicrobial activity, while high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to identify the saponins produced by representative strains. Alternaria, Botryosphaeria, Camarosporium, Cryptosporiopsis, Diaporthe, Dictyochaeta, Penicillium, Fusarium, Nectria, Peniophora, Schizophyllum, Cladosporium and Trichoderma species were isolated in this study. Overall, 25% of the isolates belonged to Diaporthe (Diaporthe eres), and 12.5% belonged to Alternaria. The highest concentration of saponins was produced by G22 (2.049 mg/mL). According to the results of the phylogenetic analysis, G22 belonged to the genus Penicillium. The culture filtrate of G22 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, and ginsenosides Re and Rb2 were detected in G22 culture filtrates by HPLC.
Highlights
Fungi that colonize the living internal tissues of plants without causing any immediate and overt negative effects, have been called endophytic fungi [1]
We investigated the diversity of the endophytic fungi harbored in populations of A. elata widely distributed in the Xiaoxing’anling area (Heilongjiang, China)
The highest concentration of saponins was found in G22 (2.049 mg/mL), and this concentration is significantly higher than the level observed in P11 and P18 (p < 0.05)
Summary
Fungi that colonize the living internal tissues of plants without causing any immediate and overt negative effects, have been called endophytic fungi [1]. Some endophytic fungi have been found to influence their host’s growth [5], enhance stress resistance [6], degrade pollutants [7], and produce biologically active substances [8]. The most famous substance of this class is taxol, a mitotic inhibitor used in cancer chemotherapy This compound was originally produced by the yew tree, but it can be produced by their endophytic fungi [9]. Endophytic fungi in A. elata have not been well studied. The authors tested the antifungal activity against plant pathogenic fungi. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on endophytic fungi isolated from wild A. elata grown in Northeast China. We investigated the diversity of the endophytic fungi harbored in populations of A. elata widely distributed in the Xiaoxing’anling area (Heilongjiang, China). The saponin production and antimicrobial activity of typical strains were analyzed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
