Diversity Of Endophytic Fungi Research Articles

Endophytic Fungal Diversity in Hardwickia binata: Bridging the Gap between Traditional and Modern Techniques

Endophytic fungus is crucial for maintaining plant health and defense mechanisms, acting as protective barriers against pathogens, and producing medicinally beneficial bioactive compounds. Genome sequencing and metagenomics have significantly enhanced the understanding of fungal diversity and metabolic capabilities, enabling the identification of new genes and substances. Traditional culture-dependent methods have been complemented by culture-independent techniques, offering a more comprehensive view of fungal diversity. Using both culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques, the present research investigation explored the diversity of endophytic fungi encountered in the foliage of Hardwickia binata. The study examined the topographical characteristics and nutritional content of soil samples collected from the locality of the selected plant sample, H. binata, to better comprehend the effects on the plant’s growth. The balanced nutrient constituted approximately a pH of 7.2, which suggested an alkaline nature and promoted plant development. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium remained 3:1:1. A total of 25 fungal isolates, categorized into 17 morphotypes, were obtained using the culture-dependent approach; Curvularia and Nigrospora emerged as the most common genera. Furthermore, the prediction of the ITS2 secondary structure supports the identification of species, highlighting a wide variety of fungal species present in H. binata. The culture-independent approach generated 69,570 high-quality sequences, identifying 269 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs). The dominant Ascomycota phylum, along with various genera, indicated a rich fungal community associated with H. binata. This study advances the understanding of the endophytic fungus communities that are associated with H. binata and the nature of soil ecology. The findings emphasize the significance of holistic techniques in the study of microbial dynamics within plant systems as well as their implications for ecosystem management and plant health.

Distribution and diversity studies of endophytic and rhizospheric fungi associated with the mangrove, Acanthus ilicifolius, using amplicon sequencing-based metagenomic approach

Fungal endophytes exhibit a broad diversity and are found universally associated with all plant species, playing a vital role in enhancing the host plant's resilience against both biotic and abiotic stressors. In this investigation conducted in Mumbai, India, the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform was employed to study the endophytic fungal diversity of the common mangrove, Acanthus ilicifolius and its rhizosphere utilizing the amplification of the fungal ribosomal ITS2 region. The results revealed the creation of 307 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) from a total of 663,600 sequencing reads, clustered at a 97 percent similarity level. Evaluation using Simpson and Shannon indices indicated that the highest community diversity was observed in stem tissue compared to root and leaf samples. The total OTUs were categorized into five phyla, 41 orders, 89 families, and 133 genera, with Ascomycota being the predominant phylum at 76.9% relative abundance, followed by Basidiomycota at 22.87%. The most abundant genera in the soil were Malassezia (35%) and Aspergillus (29.5%), while Vishniacozyma (61%) dominated in leaf samples. Unlike stem and root, no single genus dominated these tissues. The findings demonstrated significant distinctions between the fungal endophytic communities in plant tissues and the fungal microbiome in the soil. Notably, the endophyte fungi community in roots exhibited a closer resemblance to stem samples than to leaf samples. FunGuild analysis also revealed characteristic communities in different samples indicating specific functions of these genera. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the intricate composition of endophytic fungi within the tissues of A. ilicifolius and its rhizosphere.

Influence of seagrass traits on the diversity of endophytic fungi

Abstract. Kinamot VB. 2024. Influence of seagrass traits on the diversity of endophytic fungi. Biodiversitas 25: 1254-1263. The interest in endophytic fungi has grown recently because of their potential to enhance plant growth, tolerate stresses, and modulate phytohormone synthesis. Understanding how plants influence their endophytic fungal assemblage is vital to manipulating them for biotechnological applications. In this study, Bray-Curtis analysis determined the variation of endophytic fungal assemblage among different seagrass species. Leaf/root area, leaf/root dry matter content, leaf mass per area, leaf toughness, and specific leaf area of seagrasses were measured using a standard protocol. The Folin-Ciocalteau method was utilized to quantify the phenolic and tannin contents in seagrasses using tannic acid as standard. Canonical correspondence analysis correlated the influence of seagrass traits on endophytic fungal diversity. Results showed that endophytic fungal diversity varied with seagrass hosts in which higher similarity of the fungal assemblage was observed among the same seagrass species than in different seagrass species. The seagrass traits mediated the variation of endophytic fungi. Phenolic and tannin in seagrasses significantly influenced the diversity of endophytic fungi. An antifungal assay using the methanolic crude extract of seagrasses had 80-100% mycelial growth inhibition to the five species of endophytic fungi tested, which could be accounted for the chemicals like phenol and tannin that the seagrass hosts produce.

Anatomical, chemical and endophytic fungal diversity of a Qi-Nan clone of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng with different induction times.

Recently, some new Qi-Nan clones of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng which intensively produces high-quality agarwood have been identified and propagated through grafting techniques. Previous studies have primarily focused on ordinary A. sinensis and the differences in composition when compared to Qi-Nan and ordinary A. sinensis. There are few studies on the formation mechanism of Qi-Nan agarwood and the dynamic changes in components and endophytic fungi during the induction process. In this paper, the characteristics, chemical composition, and changes in endophytic fungi of Qi-Nan agarwood induced after 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years were studied, and Qi-Nan white wood was used as the control. The results showed that the yield of Qi-Nan agarwood continued to increase with the induction time over a period of 3 years, while the content of alcohol extract from Qi-Nan agarwood reached its peak at two years. During the formation of agarwood, starch and soluble sugars in xylem rays and interxylary phloem are consumed and reduced. Most of the oily substances in agarwood were filled in xylem ray cells and interxylary phloem, and a small amount was filled in xylem vessels. The main components of Qi-Nan agarwood are also chromones and sesquiterpenes. With an increasing induction time, the content of sesquiterpenes increased, while the content of chromones decreased. The most abundant chromones in Qi-Nan agarwood were 2-(2-Phenethyl) chromone, 2-[2-(3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl] chromone, and2-[2-(4-Methoxyphenyl) ethyl] chromone. Significant differences were observed in the species of the endophytic fungi found in Qi-Nan agarwood at different induction times. A total of 4 phyla, 73 orders, and 448 genera were found in Qi-Nan agarwood dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Different induction times had a significant effect on the diversity of the endophytic fungal community in Qi-Nan. After the induction of agarwood formation, the diversity of Qi-Nan endophytic fungi decreased. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between endophytic fungi and the yield, alcohol extract content, sesquiterpene content, and chromone content of Qi-Nan agarwood, which indicated that endophytic fungi play a role in promoting the formation of Qi-Nan agarwood. Qi-Nan agarwood produced at different induction times exhibited strong antioxidant capacity. DPPH free radical scavenging activity and reactive oxygen species clearance activity were significantly positively correlated with the content of sesquiterpenes and chromones in Qi-Nan agarwood.

The diversity of endophytic fungi in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) and its correlation with flavonoids and phenotypic traits.

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is a significant medicinal crop, with flavonoids serving as a crucial measure of its quality. Presently, the artificial cultivation of Tartary buckwheat yields low results, and the quality varies across different origins. Therefore, it is imperative to identify an effective method to enhance the yield and quality of buckwheat. Endophytic fungi reside within plants and form a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship, aiding plants in nutrient absorption, promoting host growth, and improving secondary metabolites akin to the host. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to assess the diversity of endophytic fungi in Tartary buckwheat. Subsequently, a correlation analysis was performed between fungi and metabolites, revealing potential increases in flavonoid content due to endophytic fungi such as Bipolaris, Hymenula, and Colletotrichum. Additionally, a correlation analysis between fungi and phenotypic traits unveiled the potential influence of endophytic fungi such as Bipolaris, Buckleyzyma, and Trichosporon on the phenotypic traits of Tartary buckwheat. Notably, the endophytic fungi of the Bipolaris genus exhibited the potential to elevate the content of Tartary buckwheat metabolites and enhance crop growth. Consequently, this study successfully identified the resources of endophytic fungi in Tartary buckwheat, explored potential functional endophytic fungi, and laid a scientific foundation for future implementation of biological fertilizers in improving the quality and growth of Tartary buckwheat.

Two new endophytic fungi of Colletotrichum and Diaporthe isolated from Berchemia polyphylla var. leioclada in Guizhou Province, China

Berchemia polyphylla var. leioclada is an important traditional Chinese medicinal plant, it has been proved to produces a variety of unique metabolites, such as glycosides, quinones, lignans, terpenes and flavonoids, with different bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial activities. Studies showed that endophytic fungi may secrete compounds that are similar to those of the host. Thus, the endophytic fungi of medicinal plants are important medicinal resources and are beneficial to the research and development of natural medicines. Therefore, studying the diversity of endophytic fungi in the medicinal plant of Berchemia polyphylla var. leioclada is of great significance to discovering new drugs. However, the endophytic fungi in Berchemia polyphylla var. leioclada have been poorly studied. This study investigates the endophytic fungi in Berchemia polyphylla var. leioclada from Guizhou Province, China. Two new species Diaporthe berchemiae and Colletotrichum berchemiae are introduced based on morphological characters and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis. This is the first report of endophytic fungi in the medicinal plant Berchemia polyphylla var. leioclada, which enhances our understanding of the endophytic fungi in the medicinal plant Berchemia polyphylla var. leioclada.

Community Structure and Diversity of Endophytic Fungi in Cultivated Polygala crotalarioides at Two Different Growth Stages Based on Culture-Independent and Culture-Based Methods.

Polygala crotalarioides, a perennial herbaceous plant found in southwest China, has the potential to be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Endophytic fungi that reside within medicinal herbs play an important ecological role in their host plants and can serve as a valuable source for identifying active components. However, little is known about the diversity, and structure of endophytic fungi in P. crotalarioides. In this study, we investigated the community structure and diversity of endophytic fungi in the leaves, stems, and roots of P. crotalarioides at both 1- and 2-year-growth stages using a modern culture-independent method using both culture-independent (high-throughput sequencing, HTS) and culture-based methods. Using HTS, our results revealed that the richness and diversity of endophytic fungi in P. crotalarioides varied depending on the organs and growth stages. Specifically, stems and leaves exhibited significantly higher diversity compared to roots. Additionally, the highest diversity of endophytic fungi was observed in the stems of the 2-year-old plants. At the genus level, Fusarium, Colletotrichum, and Phoma were the most abundant endophytic fungi in 1-year-old samples, while Cercospora, Apiotrichum, and Fusarium were prevalent in 2-year-old samples. A total of 55 endophytic fungal strains belonging to two phyla and 24 genera were isolated from 150 plant tissue segments using culture-based methods. The anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of these isolates was evaluated in vitro and five of them, Phialophora mustea PCAM010, Diaporthe nobilis PCBM027, Fusarium oxysporum LP41, F. oxysporum SR60, and Phoma herbarum SM81, showed strong activity (>50% inhibition rate). These findings will serve as a theoretical basis and practical guide for comprehending the structural composition, biological diversity and bioactivity of endophytic fungi in P. crotalarioides.

Endophytic Fungal Diversity of Mangrove Ferns Acrostichum speciosum and A. aureum in China.

Microbial communities are an important component of mangrove ecosystems. In order to reveal the diversity of endophytic fungi in the mangrove ferns Acrostichum speciosum and A. aureum in China, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of endophytic fungi in four plant tissues (leaves, petioles, roots, and rhizomes) from three locations (Zhanjiang, Haikou, and Wenchang) were sequenced. The richness, species composition, and community similarity were analyzed. The main results are as follows: the dominant fungi in A. speciosum and A. aureum belonged to the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, accounting for more than 75% of the total identified fungi; in terms of species composition at the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level, the endophytic fungi in A. aureum were more diverse than those in A. speciosum, and the endophytic fungi in rhizomes were more diverse than in other tissues. In Zhanjiang, both A. speciosum and A. aureum showed the richest diversity of endophytic fungi, both at the OTU classification level and in terms of species composition. Conversely, the richness of endophytic fungi in the samples of A. speciosum from Wenchang and Haikou is extremely low. The regional differences in dominant fungi increase with the degrading of taxonomic levels, and there were also significant differences in the number of unique fungi among different origins, with Zhanjiang samples having a larger number of unique fungi than the other locations. There were significant differences in the dominant fungi among different tissues, with Xylariales being the dominant fungi in rhizomes of A. speciosum and Hypocreales being the dominant fungi in the petioles, roots, and rhizomes of A. aureum. Overall, the community similarity of endophytic fungi among locations is moderately dissimilar (26-50%), while the similarity between tissues is moderately similar (51-75%). The low diversity of endophytic fungi could be one of the main reasons for the endangerment of A. speciosum. The protection of the diversity of endophytic fungi in the underground parts of A. speciosum is essential for the conservation of this critically endangered mangrove fern.

Effects of Different Heavy Metal Stressors on the Endophytic Community Composition and Diversity of Symphytum officinale.

Endophytes play an important role in helping plants resist heavy metal stress. However, little is known about the effects of different heavy metals on the diversity and composition of endophyte communities. In this study, we used 16S and ITS amplicon sequencing to reveal the structure and function of endophytes in Symphytum officinale under different heavy metal stressors. The results showed that the endophytic fungal diversity decreased compared with the control under the different heavy metals stressors, while the diversity of endophytic bacteria showed an increasing trend. The biomarker analysis indicated that Zn and Pb stress led to obvious branches. Specific OTUs analysis showed that there were 1224, 597, and 1004 OTUs specific under Zn, Pb, and Cd stress in the bacterial community and 135, 81, and 110 OTUs specific under Zn, Pb, and Cd stress in the fungal community. The co-occurrence network showed changes in microbial interactions under heavy metal contamination conditions, suggesting that endophytic bacteria play an important role in the resistance of host plants. The Spearman analysis showed that the correlation between endophytic bacteria and endophytic fungi in relation to heavy metal transport exhibited variations. Our results expand the knowledge of the relationships of plant-microbe interactions and offer pivotal information to reveal the role of endophytes under different heavy metal stress conditions.

Endophytic fungi in buckwheat seeds: exploring links with flavonoid accumulation.

Buckwheat is a famous edible and medicinal coarse cereal which contain abundant of bioactive flavonoids, such as rutin. In this study, the composition and diversity of endophytic fungi in eight different buckwheat seeds were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of ITS rDNA. Results showed that, the fungal sequences reads were allocated to 272 OTUs, of them, 49 OTUs were shared in eight buckwheat seeds. These endophytic fungi could be classified into 6 phyla, 19 classes, 41 orders, 79 families, 119 genera, and 191 species. At genus level, Alternaria sp. was the domain fungal endophyte. Besides, fungal endophytes belonged to the genera of Epicocum, Cladosporium, Botrytis, Filbobasidium, Stemphylium, and Vishniacozyma were highly abundant in buckwheat seeds. The total flavonoids and rutin contents in tartary buckwheat cultivars (CQ, XQ, CH, K2) were much higher than those in common buckwheat cultivars (HT, T2, T4, T8). For tartary buckwheat cultivars, the total flavonoids and rutin contents were ranging from 2.6% to 3.3% and 0.9% to 1.3%, respectively. Accordingly, the tartary buckwheat samples displayed stronger antioxidant activity than the common buckwheat. Spearman correlation heat map analysis was successfully found that certain fungal species from the genera of Alternaria, Botryosphaeria, Colletorichum and Diymella exhibited significant positive correlation with flavonoids contents. Results of this study preliminary revealed the fungi-plant interaction relationship at secondary metabolite level, and could provide novel strategy for increasing the flavonoids accumulation of buckwheat seeds, as well as improving their quality.

Diversity of endophytic fungi from medicinal plant Oxalis latifolia and their antimicrobial potential against selected human pathogens

Endophytic fungi that inhabit medicinal plants are microbial resources renowned for having compounds analogous to those produced by their host plants. This study aimed to describe the diversity of endophytic fungi found in Oxalis latifolia Kunth. To better understand the diversity of foliar endophytic fungi found in the leaves of the medicinal plant Oxalis latifolia, we isolated and characterized endophytic by using both morphological and molecular methods employing ITS markers. The antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi against common human pathogens Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis was also investigated. A Total of 16 endophytic fungi were successfully isolated from leaves and classified into five orders of Pezizomycotina based on the phylogenic analyses; Xylariales (56%), Diaporthales (19%) Sordariales (6%), Glomerellales (13%) and Botryosphaeriales (6%). The antimicrobial activity of crude extracts from fungal endophyte against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis revealed that three isolates; N. aurantiaca, Phyllosticta capitalensis N. oryzae were the most potent, while Colletotrichum karstii and N. sphaerica displayed no growth inhibition property against the tested organism. The diversity indices were calculated by using the Shannon-Wiener, Margalef, and Simpson indices. The diversity indices analysis revealed an abundance of species diversity, where the dominant species were Nigrospora oryzae, N. sphaerica, and Colletotrichum karstii. This study describes the diversity of endophytic fungi found in O. latifolia and emphasizes their potential as a source of novel bioactive compounds. More research on phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity is ongoing to correlate the traditional uses and scientific findings.

The Relationship between Endophytic Fungi of Chimonanthus praecox and Volatile Metabolites under Different Circadian Rhythms and Blooming Stages.

Chimonanthus praecox is an aromatic plant that flowers in winter. The composition of the floral volatiles of C. praecox is influenced by different blooming stages, circadian rhythms and species. However, the relationship between floral volatiles and plant endophytic fungi has not received much research attention. Here, we used high-throughput sequencing technology to compare and analyze the changes in the structure and diversity of the endophytic fungal communities in C. praecox under different circadian rhythms (7:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.) and in different blooming stages (unopened flowers and opened flowers). The endophytic fungi of C. praecox consisted of nine phyla, 34 classes, 79 orders, 181 families, 293 genera, and 397 species, and Ascomycota was the dominant phylum. Under a diurnal rhythm, the diversity (Chao1 and Shannon indices) of endophytic fungi gradually decreased in the unopened flowers, while an increasing and then decreasing trend was found for the opened flowers. In the different blooming stages, the endophytic fungal diversity was significantly higher at 7:00 a.m. in the unopened flowers compared to the opened flowers. Humidity was the key factors that significantly affected the endophytic fungal diversity and community. Moreover, 11 endophytic fungi were significantly positively or negatively correlated with seven floral volatiles. In conclusion, the community structure and diversity of endophytic fungi in C. praecox were affected by the different blooming stages and circadian rhythms, and a correlation effect related to floral volatiles was found, but there are other possible reasons that were not tested. This study provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the interrelationships between endophytic fungi, floral volatiles, and environmental factors in C. praecox.

©Relationship between endophytic fungal diversity and colonization and soil factors of cultured blueberry roots in Guizhou Province, Southwest China.

Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) inhabit plant roots and soil in ecosystems and host plants worldwide. DSE colonization is influenced by cultivars, soil factors, and specific habitat conditions. The regular diversity of DSEs in blueberries in Guizhou, China, is still unclear. In this study, four cultivars (Gardenblue, Powderblue, O'Neal, and Legacy) in three areas (Gaopo, Majiang, and Fenggang) in Guizhou were used to identify DSEs by morphological and molecular biological methods and to clarify the relationship between DSE diversity and DSE colonization and soil factors of cultivated blueberries in Guizhou. The DSEs isolated from cultivated blueberry roots in 3 areas in Guizhou Province were different, belonging to 17 genera, and the dominant genera were Penicillium, Phialocephala, and Thozetella. DSEs isolated from Majiang belonged to 12 genera and 16 species, those from Gaopo belonged to 7 genera and 15 species, and those from Fenggang belonged to 5 genera and 7 species. Among the different blueberry varieties, 11 genera were isolated from O'Neal, 12 genera were isolated from Powderblue, 11 genera were isolated from Legacy and 13 genera were isolated from Gardenblue. Coniochaeta is endemic to O'Neal, Chaetomium and Curvularia are endemic to Powderblue, and Thielavia is endemic to Legacy. Correlation analysis showed that DSE diversity was significantly correlated with DSE colonization and soil factors.

Evaluation of phytochemical responses and paclitaxel content of yew (Taxus baccata) seedlings subjected to the systemic fungicides

AbstractEndophytic fungi pass all or at least a part of their life cycle inside or between host cells in living plant tissues. These fungi are not capable of causing disease in the host plants, however, they are deemed to be associated with the production of some secondary metabolites in plants. Therefore, this study was laid out to shed light on how fungicides are involved in the formation of key metabolites of yew (Taxus baccata L.), especially taxol. Through the symbiotic fungal endophyte activities and population changes an experiment was conducted as a completely randomized block design using two foliar application treatments of Rovral‐TS and Fosetyl aluminium fungicides. Plants sprayed with distilled water were used as a control. The findings revealed that the diversity of endophytic fungi declined with the application of systemic fungicides, leading to a decrease in the production of certain secondary metabolites. Specifically, the levels of paclitaxel decreased by 35%, while the photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll‐a, chlorophyll‐b and total chlorophyll decreased by 26%, 20.6% and 19.6%, respectively. Additionally, the levels of carotenoids, total phenol and total flavonoids decreased by 18%, 15% and 21.8%, respectively. The highest amount of these compounds was observed in the control treatment. An increase in antioxidant activity, soluble sugars and proline content was observed soon after fungicides application. The variation in the content of soluble sugars, proline and antioxidant activity was fungicide‐dependent. Compared to Fosetyl aluminium fungicide, the numerical value of the above parameters in plants treated with Rovral‐TS was 14.4%, 11.7% and 25.4% higher, respectively. The fungicide‐mediated induction of Taxol production—key secondary metabolites in yew—was to a great extent associated with the change in endophytic fungi. This further establishes the role of fungal endophytes in the stimulation of secondary metabolite formation in yew plants.

Physiological and Endophytic Fungi Changes in Grafting Seedlings of Qi-Nan Clones (Aquilaria sinensis)

In recent years, some new Qi-Nan clones of Aquilaria sinensis, which have the characteristics of easily induced and high-quality agarwood, have been selected and propagated by grafting seedlings. To date, research on the grafting of Qi-Nan seedlings is limited. In this study, the effects of grafting on physiological characteristics and endophytic fungi of seedlings within a short period after grafting were studied by means of histochemical observations, physiological index determinations and Illumina sequencing. The results showed that the grafting healing time of ordinary A. sinensis was at least 10 days shorter than that of Qi-Nan, according to the degree of lignification of callus, and the tissue basis for the healing was the interxylary phloem. The MDA content of Qi-Nan peaked earlier than that of ordinary A. sinensis. The contents of JA and ABA peaked earlier in ordinary A. sinensis, and the SA content was significantly higher than that of Qi-Nan at 20–40 days; on average, it was 17.33% higher than that of Qi-Nan. A total of 5 phyla, 28 classes, 84 orders, 197 families, 489 genera and 842 species of endophytic fungi were identified before and after grafting. After grafting, the abundance and diversity of endophytic fungi in ordinary A. sinensis and Qi-Nan decreased, and the endophytic fungi were significantly different before and after grafting. In ordinary A. sinensis, before grafting, Dothideomycetes was the dominant class, and after grafting, Sordariomycetes was the dominant class. The dominant class of Qi-Nan before and after grafting was Dothideomycetes. The dominant genus of ordinary A. sinensis before grafting was Devriesia, and after grafting, it was Fusarium; that of Qi-Nan before grafting was Hyweljonesia and after grafting was Arthopyrenia. Functional genes of the endophytic fungi were mostly related to carbohydrate metabolism and energy metabolism, which may be the reason why endophytic fungi promote agarwood formation in Aquilaria trees. The findings suggest that the healing of the grafting interface in A. sinensis seedlings was the result of multiple factors, and endophytic fungi of Qi-Nan scion changed after grafting.

The Diversity and Growth-Promoting Potential of the Endophytic Fungi of Neuwiedia singapureana (Orchidaceae) in China

Neuwiedia singapureana is a rare and endangered plant of the Apostasioideae subfamily. The Apostasioideae subfamily has a unique evolutionary status, as it is considered to be the most primitive group forming the base of the Orchidaceae evolutionary tree. Therefore, N. singapureana has high scientific research and conservation value. The endophytic fungal communities associated with orchids are rich and diverse, but few studies have investigated the endophytic fungi of Neuwiedia orchid plants. In the present study, the aim was to examine the endophytic fungal community structures associated with wild N. singapureana rhizomes and normal roots in the ground and with bare prop roots in the air at two sampling sites in China. High-throughput sequencing of nuclear ribosomal DNA fragments of the internal transcribed spacer regions was conducted, and cultivable methods were adopted. A total of 2161 endophytic fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained at a 97% sequence similarity threshold. The endophytic fungal diversity differed among the samples but not significantly. There were many more non-mycorrhizal endophytic fungal than orchid mycorrhizal (OM) fungal species detected in the N. singapureana orchid, about 98.33% OTUs of non-mycorrhizal fungi contrasting with 1.67% OTUs of potential orchid mycorrhizal fungi, among which Ceratobasidiaceae, Russulaceae, and Thelephoraceae were the dominant orchid mycorrhizal fungi. One culturable OM fungal Epulorhiza sp. isolated from the rhizome was capable of significantly promoting the seed germination and seedling growth of Dendrobium officinale and Epidendrum secundum orchids, respectively, with different efficiencies. These endophytic fungal strains with growth-promoting functions will provide materials for orchid conservation and for the study of the mechanisms underlying orchid symbiotic associations.

Endophytic fungi: Tracing the evolutionary roots and exploring the diversity of plant-fungal symbioses

The endophytic lifestyle, characterized by a symbiotic relationship between fungi and their host plants, is pervasive throughout the fungal kingdom. However, the question of whether all fungi have ancestors with endophytic lifestyles remains a topic of ongoing debate. This review paper aims to explore this question by examining the evolutionary history of endophytism in fungi, the diversity of endophytic fungi, and the ecological and host-specific factors that have influenced the evolution and diversification of endophytic lifestyles. While it is clear that not all fungi descend from endophytic ancestors, the prevalence and diversity of endophytism across the fungal phylogeny suggest that this lifestyle has evolved multiple times in response to various ecological and host-specific pressures. Future research, integrating modern genomic tools and experimental approaches, will likely shed more light on the complex evolutionary trajectories of endophytic fungi, and potentially contribute to applications in agriculture, industry, and medicine.

Diversity of culturable endophytic fungi vary through time in Manihot esculenta Crantz.

Endophytic fungi are a ubiquituos group that colonize all plant species on earth. Studies comparing the location of endophytic fungi within the leaves and the sampling time in Manihot esculenta Crantz (cassava) are limited. In this study, mature leaves of M. esculenta from Panama were collected in order to compare the cultivable diversity of endophytic fungi and to determine their distribution within the leaves. A total of one hundred sixty endophytes belonging to 97 species representing 13 genera and 8 morphospecies determined as mycelia sterilia that containing 63 isolates were isolated. Cladosporium, Nigrospora, Periconia, and mycelia sterilia 1 and 3 were the most predominant isolated endophytes. We detected that endophytes varied across the sampling time, but not amongst locations within leaves. The endophytes composition across sampling and the location of endophytes within leaf was similar, except for Periconia and mycelia sterilia 3 and 7. The data generated in this study contribute to the knowledge on the biodiversity of endophytic fungi in Panama, and establish the bases for future research focused on understanding the function of endophytes in M. esculenta crops.

Seasonal variation and diversity of endophytic fungi in Chromolaena odorata (L.) King and Robinson, an invasive alien weed of Tripura, Northeast, India

Seasonal variation and diversity of endophytic fungi in Chromolaena odorata (L.) King and Robinson, an invasive alien weed of Tripura, Northeast, India

Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of endophytic fungi extracts isolated from the petiole of sungkai plant (Peronema canescens)

Abstract. Oktiansyah R, Elfita, Widjajanti H, Salni, Setiawan A. 2023. Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of endophytic fungi extracts isolated from the petiole of sungkai plant (Peronema canescens). Biodiversitas 24: 6516-6526. Indonesia has a diverse number of medicinal plants that are very helpful in preventing infectious diseases. Sungkai (Peronema canescens) is a medicinal plant of the family Verbenaceae that is often used and found in Indonesia. Its leaves possessed antibacterial and antioxidant properties that boost immunity and lessen the signs of infectious disorders. This study explored the types of endophytic fungi found in sungkai petioles and examined their relationship to previously reported sungkai leaf endophytic fungal isolates and spectrum of compounds contained them. Endophytic fungal were isolated from fresh leaf petioles of host plants, and their morphological and molecular characteristics were determined. Endophytic fungal extracts were tested for antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Utilizing the paper disk diffusion technique, the antibacterial characteristics were ascertained, while the DPPH method was used to determine antioxidant activity. Molecular identification was carried out on the fungal isolate with the most potential, and chemical compounds were isolated using column chromatography. The structures of the compounds were determined using spectroscopy, including 1D and 2D NMR. Eight endophytic fungal isolates were obtained from sungkai leaf stalks (RA1-RA8) of various species of the genus Trichoderma. Differences in the diversity of endophytic fungi found in leaf stalks and endophytic fungi from leaves were identified. RA1 showed the strongest antibacterial and antioxidant activity and was molecularly identified as T. harzianum. Spectroscopic analysis showed that the pure compound contained within was 9-hydroxy-7-methylenebenzo[c]oxepin-3(7H)-one (1), which had never previously been found in sungkai plants and endophytic fungi. The antibacterial activity of Compound 1 is in the strong category (MIC = 64 µg/mL) but is not active as an antioxidant. In terms of producing medicinal ingredients from endophytic fungi, T. harzianum in extract form has more potential to be developed.