NINGARAJU S. AND MANJULA ISHWARA KALYANI
Abstract
Fungi that dwell inside the host plantâs tissue without damaging it are known as endophytic fungi. Endophytic fungal strains established in medicinal plants can create bioactive chemicals, particularly secondary metabolites. For several biological fields, they have been recognized as possible sources of new natural products. Research into endophytic fungi is still in its early phases, even though all plants seem to have fungi with some bioactive content and activity. In this study, endophytic fungi from Hultholia mimosoides were isolated, identified and their anti-microbial activity was assessed. Twelve morphologically distinct endophytic fungi isolated, were identified based on their ITS region of 18s RNA and the same was reported to Gen Bank. All the isolates subjected to ethyl acetate solvent extraction, in order to determine the anti-microbial activity. The endophytic fungi were identified through both macroscopic and microscopic examinations. The morphological characteristics and the microscopic observations aided in determining the endophytic fungi. These endophytes were further confirmed and classified as Fusarium chlamydosporum (OQ683919), Fusarium oxysporum (OQ683924), Diaporthe longicolla (OQ685299), Cladosporium herbarum (OQ685410), Aspergillus tubingensis (OQ685748), Fusarium solani (OQ685892), Penicillium madriti (OQ603494), Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (OQ678261), Fusarium oxysporum (OQ680483), Fusarium incarnatum (OQ680522), Fusarium equiseti (OQ680709), and Penicillium glabrum (OQ683918). In order to assess the antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi against six tested bacterial pathogens organisms, their crude metabolites were extracted using an ethyl acetate solvent. The crude extracts of all endophytic fungi demonstrated antibacterial activity. Among them Penicillium glabrum (OQ683918) and Cladosporium herbarum (OQ685410) exhibited the highest zones of inhibition against the four bacterial pathogens.