Endophytic Fungal Species Research Articles

Bioactive Properties of the Aqueous Extracts of Endophytic Fungi Associated with Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Roots.

Despite the continuing interest in various plant and natural products, only a small portion of the biologically active compounds from nature has been discovered and exploited. In this study, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of aqueous fractions of three endophytic fungi isolated from the roots of 8-year-old Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) growing on a drained peatland were investigated. The endophytic fungi species were Acephala applanata, Phialocephala fortinii, and Humicolopsis cephalosporioides/Coniochaeta mutabilis. The bioactivities were examined using hydrogen peroxide scavenging and oxygen radical absorbance capacity tests as well as sensitive Escherichia coli-based biosensors, which produce a luminescent signal in the presence of substances with oxidative or genotoxic properties. In addition, cell models for Parkinson's disease, age-related macular degeneration, and osteoarthritis were used to evaluate the potential for pharmaceutical applications. The aqueous extracts of fungi and 19 out of 42 fractions were found to be active in one or more of the tests used. However, no activity was found in the age-related macular degeneration and osteoarthritis cell model tests. Additionally, bioactivity data was connected with metabolites putatively annotated, and out of 330 metabolites, 177 were interesting in view of the bioactivities investigated. A majority of these were peptides and all three fungal species shared a highly similar metabolome. We propose that Scots pine endophytic fungi are a rich source of interesting metabolites, and synergistic effects may cause the bioactivities, as they were found to vary after the fractionation process.

Solid-State Fermentation of Agroindustrial Residues for Glucoamylase Production from Endophytic Fungi Penicillium javanicum of Solanum tuberosum L.

Glucoamylase production has been evaluated under solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial residues including groundnut shell, corncob, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw, barely straw and rice straw as renewable cheap substrates by different 14 endophytic fungal species. Among them the endophytic fungi Penicillium javanicum obtained from the root of Solanum tuberosum L. showed the maximum yield of glucoamylase using groundnut shell as solid substrate (289.23 ± 0.80 U/gds). Under the optimized production parameters in solid state fermentation process (250 mL Erlenmeyer flask containing 20 grams groundnut shell supplemented with 30% soya waste as an inexpensive, eco-friendly way of enzyme production sieved to 1mm, moistened to 55% initial moisture content with potato process wastewater, pH 5.0, inoculum intense 2 × 108 spore and incubated at 30°C for 5 days fermentation period), a fourfold increase (4.19-fold) in glucoamylase production was occurred. In our study there was a strong relation between the enzyme secretion and the trophophase. The purified enzyme exhibited specific activity 81.60 and 237. 24 U/mg with enzyme recovery equal to 51.11 and 22.14% and purification fold 2.2 and 6.39-fold after the precipitation with (NH4)2SO4 and gel fractionation on sephadex G-100, respectively with maximum activity at 40-50°C and pH 5 and it was stable and retained 100% of its activity at temperature up to 60°C along with pH 5–7. The enzyme was not metallo enzyme due to EDTA and EGTA at 50 mM had no effect on glucoamylase activity but it was considered as a serine protease due to it lost 68 and 92% of its activity the serine protease inhibitor paramethyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) at 10 and 50 mM, respectively.

Prediction of the secretomes of endophytic and nonendophytic fungi reveals similarities in host plant infection and colonization strategies

ABSTRACT Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that inhabit internal plant tissues without causing apparent damage. During the infection process, both endophytic and phytopathogenic fungi secrete proteins to resist or supplant the plant’s defense mechanisms. This study analyzed the predicted secretomes of six species of endophytic fungi and compared them with predicted secretomes of eight fungal species with different lifestyles: saprophytic, necrotrophic, hemibiotrophic, and biotrophic. The sizes of the predicted secretomes varied from 260 to 1640 proteins, and the predicted secretomes have a wide diversity of CAZymes, proteases, and conserved domains. Regarding the CAZymes in the secretomes of the analyzed fungi, the most abundant CAZyme families were glycosyl hydrolase and serine proteases. Several predicted proteins have characteristics similar to those found in small, secreted proteins with effector characteristics (SSPEC). The most abundant conserved domains, besides those found in the SSPEC, have oxidation activities, indicating that these proteins can protect the fungus against oxidative stress, against domains with protease activity, which may be involved in the mechanisms of nutrition, or against lytic enzymes secreted by the host plant. This study demonstrates that secretomes of endophytic and nonendophytic fungi share an arsenal of proteins important in the process of infection and colonization of host plants.

Isolation, identification and antimicrobial activity of secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi from annona leaves (Annona squamosa L.) growing in dry land

Research on isolation, identification, and antimicrobial activity of secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi from leaves of Annona squamosa growing in dryland had been undertaken. The work includes the isolation of endophytic fungi, cultivation, and extraction of fungal extract and identification of chemical metabolites together with the antibacterial test. The pure colony of endophytic fungi was grown on solid rice media using 1 L Erlenmeyer flask. The grown fungi were extracted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate crude extract was then further subjected to chemical analysis and its antibacterial properties. Endophytic fungi species was identified as Aspergillus niger based on macroscopic and microscopic analysis. Analysis LC-MS/MS had revealed the presence of five metabolites including ephedradine A, ergosine, Ia, mudanpioside H, and trichosanic acid. The extract showed strong inhibition against Staphyloccus aureus with diameter of zone inhibition of 16.1 mm and moderate inhibition against Escherichia coli 0175H7 and Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 6939 with the observed diameter of zone inhibition of 9.6 mm and 11.3 mm, respectively.

Isolation and Identification of Endophytic Fungi in Kernels of Coix lachrymal-jobi L. Cultivars.

Coix lachrymal-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf of Gramineae are annual or perennial herbs and an important food-medicine homologous plants of high value in nutrition, health protection, and comprehensive utilization. In recent years, the revival of researches on its roles in food and medicinal applications of this underutilized grass for food security and economic empowerment of rural communities has been seen . In this research, Coix kernel endophytic fungi were isolated and identified by fungal colony morphology observation combined with the PCR-amplified fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses. All together six isolates to five species of Coix endophytic fungi and two isolates to the genus level were identified from the kernels of six Coix cultivars: Penicillium expansum, Penicillium polonicum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, and two genera of Aspergillus and Fusarium. Potential benefits and harms analyses showed that Penicillium expansum, Aspergillus oryzae, and Cladosporium cladosporioides can produce a variety of beneficial composite enzymes and have an extensive application in microbial chemistry, food science, and fermentation, whereas Penicillium, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria alternate, and Fusarium can produce corresponding toxins harmful to plants, animals, and humans. These results not only provided a basis for the targeted prevention of contamination in the tissue culture of Coix kernels by the addition of specific antibiotics, but also enriched the endophytic fungi resource pool of Gramineae crops and suggested new ideas for the improvement, cultivation, post-harvest seeds/kernels storage, and the development of new natural drugs.

Diversity and antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Securinega suffruticosa in the Yellow River Delta.

Securinega suffruticosa (Pall.) Rehd is an excellent natural secondary shrub in the Shell Islands of Yellow River Delta. The roots of S. suffruticosa have high medicinal value and are used to treat diseases, such as neurasthenia and infant malnutrition. Any organism that is isolated from this species is of immense interest due to its potential novel bioactive compounds. In this research, the distribution and diversity of culturable endophytic fungi in S. suffruticosa were studied, and the endophytic fungi with antimicrobial activity were screened. A total of 420 endophytic fungi isolates were obtained from the S. suffruticosa grown in Shell Islands, from which 20 genera and 35 species were identified through morphological and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses. Chaetomium, Fusarium, Cladosporium, and Ceratobasidium were the dominant genera. The high species richness S (42), Margalef index D' (5.6289), Shannon-Wiener index H' (3.1000), Simpson diversity index Ds (0.9459), PIE index (0.8670), and evenness Pielou index J (0.8719) and a low dominant index λ (0.0541) indicated the high diversity of endophytic fungi in S. suffruticosa, the various species of endophytic fungi with obvious tissue specificity. The inhibition percentages of the 12 species of such endophytic fungi against Colletotrichum siamense were 3.6%-26.3%. C. globosum, Fusarium sp.3, and C. ramotenellum had a high antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were between 0.5 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL. Alkaloid content detection indicated that endophytic fungi had a high alkaloid content, whereas the alkaloid contents of C. globosum and Fusarium sp.3 reached 0.231% and 0.170%, respectively. Members belonging to the endophytic fungal community in the S. suffruticosa of Shell Islands that may be used as antagonists and antibacterial agents for future biotechnology applications were identified for the first time.

Bioactivity of Mycoendophytes Isolated from Medicinal Plants Growing in Different Geographical Egyptian Habitats

: Fifty-four endophytic fungal species were isolated from 10 medicinal plants growing on different geographical Egyptian habitats; 48 of them were morphologically identified, at least to genus level and all belonged to ascomycetes. Ethanolic extracts of 49 isolates were screened for their antibacterial activities against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria; they were also screened for their antifungal activities against Candida albicans and Fusarium solani. Twenty-six isolates showed antibacterial activities at least against one tested bacterial strain and seven isolates showed antibacterial activities against both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria. Moreover, cytotoxicity of these extracts were tested against one normal cell line MRC-5 and another cancer cell line MCF-7 using MTT assay. It was found that a group of seven isolates exerted a reduced toxicity towards the normal cell line, but had a higher toxic effect on the cancer cell line. These isolates represent a promising source for anticancer compounds with low cytotoxicity against the normal cell lines.

Water-Soluble Glutamic Acid Derivatives Produced in Culture by Penicillium solitum IS1-A from King George Island, Maritime Antarctica.

A new method of screening was developed to generate 770 organic and water-soluble fractions from extracts of nine species of marine sponges, from the growth media of 18 species of marine-derived fungi, and from the growth media of 13 species of endophytic fungi. The screening results indicated that water-soluble fractions displayed significant bioactivity in cytotoxic, antibiotic, anti-Leishmania, anti-Trypanosoma cruzi, and inhibition of proteasome assays. Purification of water-soluble fractions from the growth medium of Penicillium solitum IS1-A provided the new glutamic acid derivatives solitumine A (1), solitumine B (2), and solitumidines A-D (3-6). The structures of compounds 1-6 have been established by analysis of spectroscopic data, chemical derivatizations, and vibrational circular dichroism calculations. Although no biological activity could be observed for compounds 1-6, the new structures reported for 1-6 indicate that the investigation of water-soluble natural products represents a relevant strategy in finding new secondary metabolites.

Antimicrobial Activity of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from <i>hysalis angulata</i> L. Plant

Some endophytic fungi live in plant tissue and does not caused any damage on their host plant. The endophytic fungi could produce antimicrobial secondary metabolites. Some endophytic fungi have been isolated from a medicinal plant Physalis angulata, i.e: Penicillium verrucosum, Colletotrichum alienum, Fusarium subglutinans, Aspergillus nidulans, Mycelia sterilia 1, Mycelia sterilia 2, and Rhizoctonia sp. The purpose of this research are: 1) to examine the antimicrobial activity of each endophytic fungi species toward Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and, 2) to determine the endophytic fungi species that have highest antimicrobial activity. Each endophytic fungi isolates were inoculated in Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) medium and shaked in 120 rpm, during 7 x 24 hours, then the broth culture centrifugated in the rate of 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatants from each endophytic fungi were treat to the bacteria to know the antimicrobial activity by agar diffusion method. Afterwards the antibaterial effect of each endophytic fungi species were measured. Then the highest antimicrobial effect were determined. The research results shows that: 1) each endophytic fungi species have antimicrobial activity towards B. subtilis, E. coli, S. aureus, and; 2) Penicillium verucossum secondary metabolites have the highest antimicrobial activity.

Chitosan Synthesis and Optimization of Root Endophytic Fungi

The cell wall component of root endophytic fungi is a main source of chitosan synthesis. This research aimed to optimize chitosan synthesis from three different isolated species of root endophytic fungi in Pulau Dua Nature Reserve, Banten Indonesia. Three species of root endophytic fungi, namely, Aspergillus niger, Aureobasidium sp., Basipetospora sp., were cultured to produce chitosan. To optimize the production of fungal chitosan, cultures were treated with different conditions such as growth medium (Oat Meal broth, Potato Dextrose Broth, CMMY Broth), pH value (4, 5, 6, 7), and temperature (25, 30, 35, 40°C). Chitosan was extracted from dried mycelium after treated on NaOH 10% at 121°C for 2 min. The degree of deacetylation (DD) of chitosan was then examined and compared with the control (shrimp chitosan). The optimum fungal chitosan condition was higher in CMMY medium, pH 5, and 30°C. The DD value of three root endophytic fungi species, Aspergillus niger, Aureobasidium sp., Basipetospora sp. were 88.5, 83.3, 80.8, respectively, which was lower than DD value resulted from control. This study indicates that Aspergillus niger was a potential endophytic fungi for chitosan synthesis.

Biocontrol Potential of Fungal Endophytes against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum Causing Wilt in Cucumber.

Endophytic fungi have received much attention as plant growth promoters as well as biological control agents against many plant pathogens. In this study, 30 endophytic fungal species, isolated from various plants in China, were evaluated using in vitro dual culture assay against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, causing wilt in cucumber. The results of the present study clearly showed that all the 30 endophytic fungal isolates were highly capable of inhibiting the mycelial colony growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum with inhibition % over 66% as compared to control treatments. Among all of them, 5 isolates were highly effective such as, Penicillium sp., Guignardia mangiferae, Hypocrea sp., Neurospora sp., Eupenicillium javanicum, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae, respectively. The Penicillium sp. and Hypocrea sp. were highly effective as compared to other isolates. From in vitro results 10 best isolates were selected for greenhouse studies. The results of the greenhouse studies showed that among all of them 3 endophytic fungal isolates successfully suppressed wilt severity when co-inoculation with pathogen Fusarium. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. The endophytic fungi also enhanced plant growth parameters of the host plants, the antagonistic fungal isolates increased over all plant height, aerial fresh, and dry weight as compared to control.

Endophytic fungi from the medicinal herb Euphorbia geniculata as a potential source for bioactive metabolites.

Many researchers proved that plant endophytes manage successful issues to synthesize active chemicals within plant cells. These bioactive compounds might support a range of plant defense mechanism against many pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, a total of 22 isolates representing 21 fungal species belonging to 15 fungal genera in addition to one variety were isolated and identified for the first time from Euphorbia geniculate plants. The genus Aspergillus was the most common fungus isolated from the studied plant. The fungus Isaria feline was recorded in both leaves and stem, while Aspergillus flavus, A. ochraceus, A. terreus var. terreus, Emercilla nidulans var. acristata, Macrophomina phaseolina colonized both stem and root. The isolated fungi showed antagonistic activities against six strains of plant pathogenic fungi viz., Eupenicillium brefeldianum, Penicillium echinulatum, Alternaria phragmospora, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium verticilloid, and Alternaria alternata in dual culture assay. The highest antagonistic activity fungal species (Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, and Fusarium lateritium) and the lowest (Cladosprium herbarum, F. culomrum, and Sporotrichum thermophile) showed twining in their secondary metabolites especially terpens and alkaloids with that of their host E. geniculata. Three concentrations of (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0mg/ml) of these secondary metabolites extracted by ethyl acetate and n-butanol from the above six endophytic fungal species were tested against three pathogenic fungi isolated from infected tomato plant (E. brefeldianum-EBT-1, P. echinulatum-PET-2, and A. phragmospora-APT-3), whereas these pathogens showed promising sensitivity to these fungal secondary metabolites. In conclusion, this is the first report on the isolation of endophytic fungi from E. geniculata and evaluation of their antifungal activity.

Infestation mechanisms of two woodborer species in the mangrove Sonneratia albaJ. Smith in Kenya and co-occurring endophytic fungi.

Insect damage on trees can severely affect the quality of timber, reduce the fecundity of the host and render it susceptible to fungal infestation and disease. Such pathology weakens or eventually kills the host. Infestation by two insect woodborer species (a moth and a beetle) is causing mortality of Sonneratia alba, a wide-ranging pioneer mangrove species of the Indo-Pacific. Establishing the infestation mechanism of the two insect woodborer species is an initial and essential step towards understanding their ecological role in the mangroves and in determining sustainable management priorities and options. Our main objectives were to investigate the infestation mechanism employed by the two insect woodborers which infest S. alba trees, to establish the occurrence of secondary infestation by endophytic fungi in the infested S. alba branches, and to explore a control management option to the woodborer infestation. We conducted an external inspection of infested branches in two large embayments in Kenya, Gazi Bay and Mida Creek, and by splitting infested branches we determined the respective internal infestation mechanisms. Infested wood samples from Gazi Bay and Mida Creek were incubated at 28±1°C for 3–5 days to establish the presence of fungi. A survey was conducted in both Gazi Bay and Mida Creek to ascertain the presence of ants on S. alba. The infestation characteristics of the two insect woodborer species were different. It took 6–8 months for the beetle to kill a branch of 150 cm—200 cm long. For the moth to kill a branch, it depended upon several factors including the contribution by multiple species, other than the moth infestation alone. A total of 15 endophytic fungal species were identified. Two ant species Oecophylla longipoda and a Pheidole sp. inhabited 62% and 69% respectively of sampled S. alba trees in Gazi Bay whereas only Pheidole sp. inhabited 17% of the sampled S. alba trees in Mida Creek. In summary, we have documented the time it takes each woodborer species to kill a branch, the infestation mechanism of the two insect woodborers, and we hypothesized on the role of two ant species. The presence of several different fungal species was ascertained, and we discussed their possible role in the infested wood. Our results cannot unambiguously associate the woodborers and identified fungi. We recommend further studies to investigate the presence or absence, and if present, the nature of fungi in the gut of the woodborers.

Seasonal, tissue and age influences on frequency and biodiversity of endophytic fungi ofCitrus sinensisin Iran

AbstractA total of 4,009 endophytic fungal isolates were recovered from healthy leaves, bark and xylem ofCitrus sinensisin different seasons and age‐classes. Corresponding to those factors, the majorities of fungal isolates were recovered from leaves, 2‐yr‐old trees and winter, respectively. Fungal isolates were initially categorized based on cultural and morphological characters, and representatives of each morphotype were subjected to molecular identifications based on ITS‐rDNA andβ‐tubulin sequences. All isolates obtained in this study belonged to the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota assigned to 30 fungal taxa. The most abundant fungal species wereAlternariaspp. Species diversity indices of Margalef richness and Shannon–Wiener revealed a high diversity of fungal taxa recovered from leaf and during winter. Frequency (%) of fungal endophytes was highest in winter followed by summer, autumn, and spring significantly, whereas the corresponding sequence was winter, autumn, summer and spring for the diversity of endophytic fungi. Overall, the results of this study based on the community and diversity of endophytic fungal species inC. sinensisshowed that the type of plant tissue, season of sampling and age of tree play a driving role on their abundance while their diversity was mainly dependent on the type of plant tissue, season of sampling than on the age of tree.

<p><strong><em>Neopestalotiopsis hadrolaeliae</em></strong><strong> <em>sp. nov.</em>, a new endophytic species from the roots of the endangered orchid <em>Hadrolaelia jongheana</em> in Brazil</strong></p>

A new endophytic fungal species, Neopestalotiopsis hadrolaeliae, is described from roots of Hadrolaelia jongheana, an endangered orchid species growing in Brazil. Multigene phylogenetic analyses coupled with morphological observations facilitated the identification of new species isolated from the roots of Hadrolaelia jongheana. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, TUB and TEF DNA sequences showed that the new taxon is different from reported Neopestalotiopsis species. Descriptions and illustrations and notes are provided for the new species, which we name herein as Neopestalotiopsis hadrolaeliae.

ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI COMMUNITIES FROM Centella asiatica OF BENGKULU ACCESSION

Various species of endophytic fungi have been isolated and reported from various types of plants and tissues, but how host or plant tissue determines endophytic community structure has not been explored quantitatively. The aim of this research was to understand community structure of endophytic fungi in various organs of Centella asiatica of Bengkulu accession. The analysis data use to Shannon Wienner diversity index (H’), dominance index, colonization rate, frequency of occurrence and UPGMA analysis with Jaccard Coefficient. Total 61 isolates were obtained and grouped into 19 morfotypes, consist of 15 Asomycetes & 4 Basidiomycetes and 10 Genera. The highest colonization rate was in stolons (16%) and the lowest is in petiols (4%). Endophytic fungi were distributed in all of the organs. Leaves harbored more diverse endophytic fungi (H’= 2,138) than the other organs and classified as medium. Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum dan Phoma multirostrata were the dominant species.This research showed that different type of host-pant organs influenced community structure of endophytic fungi from C. asiatica of Bengkulu accession. This is the first report, on the community strcuture of endophytic fungi from C. asiatica from leaves, petiols, stolons, and roots part of the organ plant. Overall, our results indicated that the isolate can be used to analyzed of it’s potential as bioactive compuond same as the host.

Antimicrobial Activity of Terpenoids Extracted from Annona muricata Seeds and its Endophytic Aspergillus niger Strain SH3 Either Singly or in Combination.

BACKGROUND:Annona muricata (Soursop) has an antimicrobial activity toward various pathogenic microorganisms which support its ethnomedicinal for the treatment of many infectious diseases.AIM:Aim of the present study to evaluate the relation between antimicrobial activities of terpenoids extracted from different soursop parts with the isolated endophytic fungi.METHODS:Endophytic fungal species of pulp and peel of Annona fruit along with those of seeds were isolated. Salkowski test was used for qualitative screening of terpenoids in plant and the isolated endophytic Aspergillus niger strain SH3.RESULTS:Endophytic A. niger strain SH3 and Annona seed extract showed high terpenoid content indicated by the high intensity of reddish-brown colour. GC/Mass analysis revealed six compounds of terpenoids from endophytic A. niger strain SH3 extract and four compounds from seed extract with different retention times. The antimicrobial assay was performed using A. niger strain SH3 extract and Annona seed extract singly or in combinations against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli and C. albicans.CONCLUSION:The results revealed the significant antimicrobial activity of both extracts. However, the combined extract showed some reduction in antimicrobial activity which could be attributed to the antagonistic effect exhibited by their constituents.

New pathogenic and endophytic fungal species associated with Persian oak in Iran

The objectives of the present study were to identify composition of fungal communities associated with healthy and declined oak trees and seedlings in Ilam Province, Iran, and to evaluate their role in occurrence of the oak decline. Fungal isolates were obtained from branches of healthy and declining Persian oak trees and seedlings in Ilam province during summer and autumn 2014–2015. Fungal species were identified according to both morphological and molecular characteristics obtained from ITS, 28S and 18S regions of ribosomal DNA. Some fungal species such as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and Obolarina persica were obtained only from branches of Persian oak trees with decline symptoms. The Acremonium sp., Coniochaeta sp., Cytospora ribis, Fusarium tricinctum, Microsphaeriopsis olivacea and Neoetophoma samarorum species were found only in healthy trees as endophytic species. While, B. mediterrana, Didymella glomerata, Fusarium solani and Tricothecium roseum were isolated from both healthy and declined trees. The F. tricinctum and T. roseum species were found in healthy seedlings. However, D. glomerata was isolated from both healthy and dried seedlings. The species B. mediterrana, D. glomerata, N. dimidiatum and O. persica showed pathogenicity on the Persian oak seedlings in the greenhouse conditions. Finally, it could be concluded that for the first time two species, D. glomerata and N. dimidiatum, were recorded as pathogens associated with Persian oak. In addition, Acremonium sp., Coniochaeta sp., C. ribis, F. solani, F. tricinctum, N. samarorum and T. roseum were recorded for the first time as endophytic fungi on Persian oak trees.

Antagonistic Fungal Endophytes Colonizing Rhizome of Amomum centrocephalum A.D. Poulsen from North Sumatera, Indonesia

Endophytic fungi were successfully isolated from healthy rhizomes of the wild ginger Amomum centrocephalum A.D. Poulsen from Hutan Sibayak, North Sumatera, Indonesia. This study aimed to evaluate the antagonistic properties of isolated endophytic fungi against selected pathogenic bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi assessed by dual culture plate assay. Methanolic extract of A. centrocephalum rhizome was also tested as a control. Nine morphotypes of endophytic fungi were differentiated morphologically with further molecular identification using ITS rDNA sequencing for potential antagonistic strains. Most isolates showed considerable inhibitory activities towards microbial indicators than MeOH extract of A. centrocephalum. All strains showed distinct inhibitory activities against bacterial pathogens. The strongest activity was shown against gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213â„¢ followed by gram-negative, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922â„¢ while there was no evidence of inhibition against clinical yeast strain, Candida albicans. All strains were known as prominent antagonists of phytopathogens against Fusarium oxysporum, Ganoderma boninense, and Rigidoporus ligneous. The five potential strains were identified as Aspergillus aculeatus, Clonostachys rosea, Daldinia caldariorum, and two strains of Trichoderma. Hence, we reported the newly found species of endophytic fungi colonizing rhizomes of Sumatran Zingiberacean species with prospects upon finding novel metabolite compounds combating bacterial infection and plant diseases.

Records of Culturable Endophytic Fungi Inhabiting Rhizome of Elettaria in Hutan Sibayak, North Sumatera

Endophytic microorganisms are microbial associates living in various part of host, yet expressing benefits to healthy plants. Existence of species-specific endophytes, endophytic fungi is still poorly studied especially in Zingiberaceae. In this study, we reported several endophytic fungal species isolated from rhizome of Elettaria through isolative efforts and molecular evidence. Host plant, Elettaria sp. was sampled from representative natural area, i.e. Hutan Sibayak which is known as biodiversity spot for Zingiberaceae in North Sumatera. Molecular identification revealed the identity of five isolated fungal strains collected from rhizomes of Elettaria, namely Trichoderma atroviride, Curvularia lunata, Schizophyllum commune, Trichoderma harzianum and Pholiota multicingulata. Phylogenetic tree is constructed based on Neighbor-joining method in a bootstrap test (1000x replication) with outgroup and database retrieved from NCBI GenBank. From our perspective, this is the first report on finding fungal endophytes from rhizomes of Elettaria sp. yet further investigation is needed to evaluate their future bioprospectives.