Endophytic Fungal Assemblages Research Articles

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.

Salt tolerant fungal endophytes alleviate the growth and yield of saline-affected wheat genotype PBW-343

The purpose of this work was to assess how salt-tolerant wheat endophytic fungi promoted the growth of salt-sensitive wheat after inoculation. The endophytic fungal assemblages from salt-tolerant wheat genotypes (KRL-213, KRL-210 and KRL-19) and from salt-sensitive wheat genotype (PBW-343) were characterized, identified and determined for the current study. Of the fifty fungal isolates collected from both the salt-tolerant and the salt-sensitive wheat genotypes, 8 isolates recovered from salt-tolerant varieties were found to be resistant at high salt concentrations. These 8 isolates were characterized through several biochemical tests, such as plant growth promoting assay, extracellular enzymatic assay, carbohydrate utilization assay, antagonism versus plants pathogens and capacity to promote wheat seedlings (pot experiments). All tests revealed the positive results for 4 fungal strains (K13TR/150, K19TR/200, K-19TL/150 and K-19TL/200). These 4 fungi were identified as Aspergillus medius (K19TR/200), Cladosporium parahalotolerant (K13TR/150), Aspergillus versicolor (K19TL/150) and Aspergillus nishimurae (K19TL/200) through 18 S rDNA sequencing. Out of these, C. parahalotolerant and A. medius showed the synergistic effect with each other, so these 2 isolates were used in further experiments. These 2 isolates were involved in increasing the root-shoot length, proline and MDA contents. SEM and fluorescence microscopy were used to detect endophytic fungal colonization in the root of seedlings. C. parahalotolerant and A. medius heavily colonized the roots and it was noticed on the 21st day of the growth phase. These findings imply that fungal isolates have the potential to confer stress tolerance to their respective hosts and may enhance the agricultural production in the future, especially considering the changes in climate.

Decreased diversity and connectivity of endophytic fungal assemblages within cultivated European olive trees compared to their native African counterpart

Host identity and location help shape fungal endophyte assemblages in plants. Hosts act as uptake filters from the environment and closely related hosts in the same location may harbour similar assemblages. We assessed the influence of host identity and geographic location on endophytic fungal assemblages within the native African olive and cultivated European olive in South Africa using high throughput sequencing. As hypothesised, the two hosts were found to share many endophytic species, but alpha diversity was lower within the European olive. The two hosts had significantly dissimilar endophyte assemblages. Distance between sites positively correlated with endophyte assemblage dissimilarities, demonstrating a strong effect of the surrounding environment on endophyte assemblages. African olive individuals had highly connected endophyte assemblages, unlike those within the European olive. Microbiome sharing and disconnected assemblages may have negative impacts on the health of the cultivated host.

Culturable endophytic fungal assemblages from Styrax sumatrana and Stryax benzoin and their potential as antifungal, antioxidant, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory resources.

Benzoin resin, produced by the native Indonesian trees Styrax sumatrana and Styrax benzoin, has been incorporated into medical practices to treat wounds, erythema, and many other conditions for centuries. Endophytic fungi that reside within medicinal plants have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and α-glucosidase inhibitory capacities, contributing to plant health and derivative products. In this study, we determined the antifungal, antioxidant, and α-glucosidase inhibitory capacities of endophytic fungal isolates from three different tissues (leaves, bark, and stems) of S. sumatrana and S. benzoin trees. The genera of fungal isolates were determined by phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer sequences. A total of 58 fungal isolates were classified into 15 different fungal genera from eight taxonomic orders-Hypocreales, Botryosphaeriales, Glomerellales, Diaphortales, Pleosporales, Eurotiales, Xylariales, and Mucorales-with a pattern of host species specificity. Among these isolates, Trichoderma sp. 6407 consistently exhibited high inhibition of the growth of plant pathogens Fusarium sp., Trichoderma viride, and Aspergillus niger. With respect to antioxidant activity, Phyllosticta sp. 6454 consistently showed 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl inhibition (37.59 ± 0.05%), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)-based antioxidant activity (25.04 ± 0.27 mgTE/g), and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (52.15 ± 10.08%). Neopestalotiopsis sp. 6431 was notably potent in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl inhibition (49.65 ± 0.80%), ferric reducing antioxidant power-based antioxidant activity (197.49 ± 8.65 mgTE/g), and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (52.88 ± 4.93%). This study revealed that Trichoderma sp. 6407, Phyllosticta sp. 6454, and Neopestalotiopsis sp. 6431 exhibited antifungal, antioxidant, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities.

Investigating diverse methods for inducing sporulation in endophytic fungi

To date, many plants explored for their endospheric microbiomes have revealed a substantial amount of sterile mycelia, a group of fungi with pseudo-taxonomic positions. While unravelling the endophytic fungal assemblages of a plant <italic>Ephedra gerardiana</italic> Wall. ex Stapf. <italic>via</italic> culture-dependent methods, 73.2% of the total isolates failed to sporulate on the commonly used artificial media. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the diverse methods, either individually or in combination to check their impact in inducing fungal sporulation. The maximum number of isolates (N _max) sporulated after individual treatments with 12 h alternate light &amp; dark cycles and cold shocks at 4−6 °C were 22.91% and 18%, respectively. However, the combination of cold treatment with alternate light and dark cycles showed the N _max of <sub/> 27.84% and proved to be the best method of sporulation induction out of the methods investigated. To the best of our knowledge, this involves the pioneer attempt of using cold treatment as a triggering factor for sporulating endophytic fungi. Accentuating better methods for endophytic fungal sporulation would not only solve the taxonomic position of these mycosymbionts, but also lessen the time to make them sporulate along with unveiling their eco-physiological behavior inside the host plant.

Antimicrobial activity and metabolite profiling of endophytic fungi in Digitaria bicornis (Lam) Roem. and Schult. and Paspalidium flavidum (Retz.) A. Camus.

Endophytic fungal occurrences were studied in aerial regions of Digitaria bicornis and Paspalidium flavidum by three isolation methods: potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt extract agar (MEA), and moist blotters. Seventy species of 29 genera of endophytic fungi in D. bicornis and 71 species of 30 genera in P. flavidum were documented. Endophytic fungal communities were grouped into 40 and 43 anamorphic ascomycetes (21 and 23 genera) and 20 teleomorphic ascomycetes (6 and 7 genera) in D. bicornis and P. flavidum, respectively. PDA supported the expression of larger number of fungal communities than MEA and MB; and P. flavidum hosted more number of endophytic fungi than D. bicornis. Seasons played an important role in supporting the assemblage of fungal endophytes. Endophytic fungal species richness and assemblages in plant regions were determined for alpha, beta, and gamma diversities. The ethyl acetate followed by methanolic extracts of certain fungal species showed good antagonistic and antibacterial activities. Among fungal endophytes, Curvularia protuberata and Penicillium citrinum exhibited high antagonistic and antibacterial activities. The high-resolution orbitrap liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of ethyl acetate crude extracts of C. protuberata and P. citrinum revealed the presence of antifungal and antimicrobial, besides a host of compounds in the extracts. The present study indicated that grass endophytes are the sources of compounds with antimicrobial and other pharmacological activities.

Effect of fungal endophytes of soybean (Cv. JS-335) on growth parameters and charcoal rot disease incidence of soybean

Use of chemicals for growth enhancement and disease control in plants has resulted in hazardous influences to the environment and human health. Therefore, less harmful methods should be implemented and the possibility of using microbes for this purpose has been investigated. Endophytic fungal assemblages have been known to enhance plant growth and decrease disease incidence in some crops including soybean and thus can be used as an alternative to chemicals. A total seven effective fungal endophytes in vitro, which were evaluated to assess their efficacy against M. phaseolina, by sick soil method, in polybags, under screen house condition, they also influenced on growth parameter of soybean (Cv. JS-335), thereby improving seed germination, root length, shoot length and seedling vigour index (SVI) in soybean. In the present study, the results were obtained on per cent mortality (pre-, post emergence and average) and reductions, over untreated control. Fungal endophytes viz., Paecilomyces lilacinus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium sp. were found most effective in reducing the mortality (PRESR, POESM and average) over untreated control, against M. phaseolina in soybean.

Endophytic fungal assemblages of Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum Edgew. and their antimicrobial potential

Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum Edgew. is a medicinal plant widely been used by the local tribal communities of Assam as an alternative source of medicine for the treatment of various diseases. In the present study, endophytic fungi associated with Z. oxyphyllum were undertaken with an aim to investigate the isolates for their antimicrobial potential. The endophytic fungi were recovered using four different media, namely, Malt Extract Agar (MEA) media, Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media, Water Agar (WA) media and media amended with the Plant Extract (PEA) from samples collected from three sites. Altogether, 18 isolates of endophytic fungi were isolated from 150 surface sterilized and healthy leaf fragments. Colletotrichum was found to be dominant endophytic genus with 7 different species. Other isolated endophytic fungal genera were Fusarium, Curvularia, Aspergillus, Corynespora and isolates belonging non-sporulating fungi categorised as Mycelia Sterilia. The endophytic fungi were determined for antimicrobial activity against selected clinically significant human pathogenic test organisms. Ethyl acetate crude extracts of all endophytic fungi exhibited antimicrobial activity by inhibiting a minimum of one of the four test pathogens. Amongst the isolates, crude extracts obtained from Fusarium sp. and five Colletotrichum spp. showed wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all the test organisms. The study indicated that Z. oxyphyllum harbours a wide range of endophytes capable of producing secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties. Further detailed investigation of their bioactive metabolites might lead to discovery of compounds with potential therapeutic applications as a new source of medicine.

Endophytic fungal community succession in reproductive organs of two olive tree cultivars with contrasting anthracnose susceptibilities

The factors shaping endophytic fungal assemblages in reproductive organs have been less evaluated than in vegetative organs. Here, the temporal dynamics of fungal endophytes in inflorescences and fruits of olive tree cultivars with contrasting anthracnose susceptibilities was assessed, starting before flowers open until fruit ripening. Fungal diversity assessed by rRNA sequencing of cultivable isolates revealed a higher richness and abundance of endophytes in inflorescences than in fruits. Endophytes from Sordariomycetes were dominant in inflorescences, while in fruits they were from Dothideomycetes. The overall assemblages of inflorescences and fruits were shaped mainly by the plant organ, followed by the phenological stage and lastly, by the plant cultivar. The importance of cultivar as a shaping factor varied according to the plant organ, being only significant in inflorescence-associated endophytes. A set of fungal taxa were positively associated with a particular cultivar and phenological stage, likely contributing to the plant anthracnose resistance. • Temporal dynamic of fungal endophytes in inflorescences and fruits was studied. • Plant organ and phenological stage explain the fungal endophyte assemblage. • Plant genotype importance as a shaping factor changes according to the plant organ. • Host and phenological specificity for some fungal taxa were found. • Potential impact to plant disease resistance due to endophytic changes is discussed.

Epiphytic and Endophytic Fungal Communities of Tomato Plants

Plants harbor diverse fungal communities both on their surfaces (epiphytic) and inside of plant tissues (endophytic), and these fungi play important roles in plant health and vigor. However, comparisons of epiphytes and endophytes have rarely been performed. In this study, the soil, epiphytic and endophytic fungal assemblages of greenhouse-grown tomato plants were extensively examined and compared by Illumina sequencing of 18S rRNA amplicons. The fungal communities differed in both size and composition. The soil communities were the richest and most abundant, while the endophytes showed the lowest richness and diversity. The diversity of endophytes also differed in different tissues, with the highest diversity occurring in the roots. In both the epiphytic and endophytic samples, the majority of fungi corresponded to ascomycetes, among which Sordariomycetes, Dothideomycetes and Eurotiomycetes were the most frequent classes. The major non-ascomycete fungi were associated only with the class Exobasidiomycetes (Basidiomycota). At the order level, the epiphytes showed similar distribution patterns in the stems and leaves, but among the endophytes, distinct fungal orders were enriched in different tissues. Capnodiales was recorded as a major fungal group in the stems, leaves and seeds, and Saccharomycetales was specifically enriched in the pericarp and jelly around seeds. The present data suggested that different drivers shaped epiphytic and endophytic fungi communities and deepened our knowledge of the complex plant-fungus interaction in tomato.

The influence of host-plant connectivity on fungal assemblages in the root microbiota of Brachypodium pinnatum.

Dispersal limitation may drive the structure of fungal microbiota of plant roots at small spatial scales. Fungal root microorganisms disperse through the plant rooting systems from hosts to hosts. Due to a pronounced host-preference effect, the composition of endophytic root microbiota may follow plant distribution. A given plant community may hence include a matrix of host-plant species that represent various habitat permeabilities to fungal dispersal in the floristic landscape. We experimentally tested the effect of host-plant isolation on endophytic fungal assemblages (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Glomeromycotina) inhabiting Brachypodium pinnatum roots. We calculated host-plant isolation using Euclidean distance (distance-based dispersal limitation) and resistance distance (functional-based dispersal limitation), based on host presences. All fungal groups were more influenced by the resistance distance between B. pinnatum than by the Euclidean distance. Fungal dispersal was hence strongly related to the spatial distribution of the host plants. The fungal groups displayed however different responses (in richness, abundance, and composition) to host isolation. Additionally, fungal assemblages were more strongly controlled by the degree of connectivity between host plants during the prior year than by current connectivity. This discrepancy may be due to changes in plant species coverage in a year and/or to the delay of dispersal response of fungi. This study it the first to demonstrate how small-scale host-plant distributions mediate connectivity in microorganisms. The consequences of plant distributions for the permeability of the floristic landscape to fungi dispersal appear to control fungal assemblages, but with possibly different mechanisms for the different fungal groups.

Internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) molecular morphometric analysis based species delimitation of foliar endophytic fungi from Aglaia elaeagnoidea, Flacourtia inermis and Premna serratifolia.

Molecular morphometrics is an emerging third dimensional aspect of fungal species delimitation. They have been demonstrated to be more informative than conventional barcoding methods. Hence in this study, foliar endophytic fungal (FEF) assemblages in three Magnoliopsida plants were delimited using nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence—secondary structural features based phylogenetic analysis, also known as molecular morphometrics. A total of 392 FEF isolates were obtained from the Aglaia elaeagnoidea, Flacourtia inermis, and Premna serratifolia leaves and grouped into 98 morphotypes. Among these host plants, P. serratifolia showed the maximum percentage of colonization frequency. Representatives of each morphotype was sequenced and subjected to further molecular characterization. The results revealed that morphotypes were belonged to the phylum of Ascomycota, distributed over two classes (Sordariomycetes (68.59%) and Dothideomycetes (31.41%)), 6 orders and 19 genera. Based on compensatory base changes (CBC) analysis and absolute identity of ITS2 structure, 21, 20 and 23 species were recognized from A. elaeagnoidea, F. inermis, and P. serratifolia respectively. Diversity indices were higher in A. elaeagnoidea, despite it accounted for a modest 16.8% of total isolates recorded in this study. The genus Colletotrichum was predominant in A. elaeagnoidea (39%) and P. serratifolia (48%). Similarly, Diaporthe (43%) was dominant in F. inermis. Several host-specific species were also observed. This study concludes that these plants host diverse species of Ascomycota. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed report on FEF diversity from these plants. Also, the inclusion of ITS2 secondary structure information along with the sequence provides a further dimension to resolve the inherent problems in identification of fungal species.

Endophytic fungal assemblages on leaves of 73 deciduous tree species in a cool temperate forest

Endophytic fungal assemblages on leaves of 73 deciduous tree species in a cool temperate forest

Effect of endophytic fungi on plant growth and blast disease incidence of two traditional rice varieties

Traditional rice varieties, although low producers of yield, are more amenable to organic farming practices that cause less damage to the environment and human health. Improved growth and reduced disease incidence would produce higher yields, and endophytic fungi have proven to be effective in achieving these ends in wheat. With this in view, endophytic fungal assemblages of two traditional rice varieties of Sri Lanka i.e. Suwandel and Kaluheenati were evaluated for their effect on the growth and disease incidence of rice plants, because the endophytic mycoflora of these two traditional rice varieties and their effects have not been studied before. The most common and the highest occurring endophytes of both rice varieties i.e. Absidia and Cylindrocladium were tested to determine their effect on rice plant growth and the results showed that the plants inoculated with both fungal isolates showed significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) in plant height, fresh weight and dry weight. Twenty two endophytic fungal isolates common to both rice varieties were screened using dual culture assay for their ability to control the mycelial growth of Magnaporthe grisea, the causative agent of rice blast disease. All tested endophytes controlled pathogen growth by coiling the hyphae around the pathogen and forming clamps and loops. However, Absidia and Acremonium showed the highest growth inhibition of the pathogen (100 %) and showed an abundance of the above inhibitory structures. The effect of crude culture filtrates of thirteen endophytic fungi tested using the diffusion plate method indicated antagonistic activity against the rice pathogen. In planta tests were carried out to assess the effect of three endophytic fungi i.e. Acremonium , Absidia and Penicillium on infection by M. grisea . Disease symptoms were observed only on the leaves of the rice plants grown from Penicillium inoculated seedlings and controls treated with 1×107 spores/mL suspension of the pathogen. Pre-inoculation with Acremonium and Absidia were effective in preventing infection by the blast fungus. No disease symptoms were observed in plants pre-inoculated with endophytes and in plants used as controls sprayed with a 1×105 spores/mL suspension of the pathogen. Twenty one endophytic fungi common to both rice varieties were assessed by the culture plate method in this study. J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2015 43 (2): 173-187

Diversity of microfungi associated with phyllosphere of endemic Serbian plant Nepeta rtanjensis Diklić &amp; Milojević

Nepeta rtanjensis (Lamiaceae) is an endemic and critically endangered plant species that grows only on Rtanj Mountain in the southeastern Serbia. Due to its endemic character and distribution separated from the other Nepeta species in Mediterranean Basin, N. rtanjensis has been considered as a relict. It has been noticed that number of individual plants in natural habitat rapidly decreases. Hence, the project of reintroduction of this plant was successfully conducted. However, many aspects of its biology still remain unknown and necessary to investigate. In that sense, epiphytic and endophytic Nepeta rtanjensis phyllosphere fungi were studied at three sites in Serbia: Javor—Locus classicus, with autochthonous population and with reintroduced plants, and Belgrade with micropropagated specimens in experimental field. The sites in Javor are located in the area of the Mountain Rtanj. From both, the surface and the interior of leaves, a total of 49 taxa of microfungi were identified, belonging to 35 genera. Alternaria spp. was reported on all studied sites with the highest isolation frequency (>75 %). Similarity between epiphytic and endophytic fungal assemblage was moderate. The highest fungal diversity was detected on site with the autochthonous Nepeta rtanjensis population. Phyllosphere mycobiota show the presence of a large number of viable propagules, with a low frequency of occurrence of symptoms, due to the specific anatomy of the leaf and a well-developed indumentum.

In the forest vine Smilax rotundifolia, fungal epiphytes show site-wide spatial correlation, while endophytes show evidence of niche partitioning

Endophytic and epiphytic fungal assemblages from stems of S. rotundifolia, a shrubby vine, were studied in order to (1) quantify differences and the degree of overlap between fungal communities of both micro-habitats, and (2) examine whether fungal assemblages are spatially correlated at the local scale (tens to hundreds of meters), in order to understand if dispersal limitation may play a role in structuring these communities. Sampling was conducted over 160 m of growth along a forest edge. The communities showed low overlap (Bray-Curtis Similarity = 0.22), with most species that were common in one habitat appearing rarely if at all in the other, and only Aureobasidium pullulans showing high frequency in both. Epiphytic assemblages proved to be spatially correlated along the 160 m length of the transect, and even more so when adjacent pairs of stems were considered as the unit of comparison rather than individual stems. Endophytic assemblages showed no significant spatial correlation along the transect. Unexpectedly, three species of endophytes showed a pattern in which abundance of colonies peaked at different heights on the stems. Colletotrichum boninense showed peak abundance at 3 cm from the stem base. Phomopsis sp. 1 peaked at 33 cm from the stem base. Endophytic isolates of A. pullulans peaked at 63 cm from the stem tip. It was also found that positive correlative relationships were detected between endophyte-endophyte, and epiphyte-epiphyte pairs. Cross-group interactions seemed to center around crossover species that were not entirely constrained within the surface or interior.

Beech cupules share endophytic fungi with leaves and twigs

Endophytic mycobiota on leaves, twigs and cupules of Fagus crenata were investigated using a culture-dependent method over a growing season to test the hypothesis that endophytic fungi of cupule (a woody phyllome) share some components of the endophytic fungal assemblages with both leaves and twigs. A total of 14 fungal taxa were isolated, and the most frequent taxon was Phomopsis sp., followed by Xylaria sp., Ascochyta fagi and Geniculosporium sp. The compositions of fungal assemblages of leaf laminae and petioles were generally relatively dissimilar to those of current and first-year twigs when compared for each sampling month, and those of cupules and cupule stalks were intermediate between those of leaves and twigs. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance confirmed that month and organ were significant factors of the variation of the composition of endophytic fungal assemblages. Phomopsis sp., a common twig endophyte, and A. fagi, a common leaf endophyte, were common in cupules and cupule stalks. These results suggested that the endophytic fungal assemblages of cupules shared component taxa with those of both leaves and twigs.

Antimicrobial Activity of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Swietenia macrophylla Leaves

The endophytic fungi isolated from leaves of Swietenia macrophylla of different ages were examined for antimicrobial activity. The agar plug diffusion assay was used for primary screening, followed by the disc diffusion method. A total of 461 filamentous endophytic fungi were isolated and cultured to examine their antimicrobial properties. In the primary screen, 315 isolates (68.3%) exhibited activity against at least one of the test pathogenic microorganisms. The percentage of isolates exhibiting antimicrobial activity increased with leaf age. Endophytic fungal assemblages, as well as those isolates exhibiting antimicrobial properties appeared to increase with leaf age. The main antimicrobial compounds were produced extracellularly by the endophytic fungi. The results suggest that healthy leaves at older stages of growth can be a potential source for the isolation of endophytic fungi with antimicrobial properties.

Prospecting endophytic fungal assemblage of Digitalis lanata Ehrh. (foxglove) as a novel source of digoxin: a cardiac glycoside.

Endophytes, the chemical synthesizers inside plants, are the microorganisms having mutualistic relationship with the host plant. They can be used by plants for defense in addition to the production of a wide variety of beneficial bioactive secondary metabolites. There are reports that microbial endophytes mimic the bioactive compounds as produced by the plant itself thus making them a promising source of novel compounds. During the present study, endophytes were isolated from the symptomless leaves and stem of the angiosperm, Digitalis lanata (foxglove). Digitalis lanata belongs to the family Plantaginaceae and is an important medicinal plant known for the production of an important glycoside, digoxin having valuable medicinal importance. Glycosides from Digitalis have been reported to be cardiotonic and are widely used in the treatment of various heart conditions namely atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, heart failure, etc. Endophytic fungi were isolated from Digitalis to screen them for such glycosides as have been found in the plant itself. A total of 35 fungal endophytes were isolated and screened for the production of secondary metabolites. After preliminary analysis by thin layer chromatography for the presence of bioactive compounds, crude extracts of five fungal cultures were selected for HPLC. HPLC chromatograms revealed the production of glycoside digoxin from the five selected endophytic cultures, thus providing a novel, alternative and eco-friendly source for the production of such a pharmaceutically important and valuable drug.

Antifungal activity of extracts from endophytic fungi associated with Smallanthus maintained in vitro as autotrophic cultures and as pot plants in the greenhouse

The endophytic fungal assemblages associated with Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H. Rob. and Smallanthus uvedalius (L.) Mack. ex Small growing in vitro autotrophic cultures and in the greenhouse were identified and evaluated for their ability to produce bioactive compounds. A total of 25 isolates were recovered that were genetically closely related to species of the genera Bionectria , Cladosporium , Colletotrichum , Fusarium , Gibberella , Hypocrea , Lecythophora , Nigrospora , Plectosphaerella , and Trichoderma . The endophytic assemblages of S. sonchifolius presented a greater diversity than the group isolated from S. uvedalius and demonstrated the presence of dominant generalist fungi. Extracts of all fungi were screened against the fungal plant pathogens. Ten extracts (41.6%) displayed antifungal activities; some of them had a broad antifungal activity. The phylotypes Lecythophora sp. 1, Lecythophora sp. 2, and Fusarium oxysporum were isolated from in vitro autotrophic cultures and displayed antifungal activity. The presence of bioactive endophytic fungi within S. sonchifolius and S. uvedalius suggests an ecological advantage against pathogenic attacks. This study revealed reduced numbers of endophytes in association with both Smallanthus species in controlled cultivation conditions compared with the endophytic communities of hosts collected in the wild environments. Even as reduced endophytic communities, these fungi continue to provide chemical protection for the host.