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Fungal endophyte assemblages from ethnopharmaceutically important medicinal trees
Mysore V Tejesvi1, Basavanna Mahesh, Monnanda S Nalini
1Department of Studies in Applied Botany and Biotechnology, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Karnataka, India.
Canadian Journal of Microbiology
|May 16, 2006
Summary
Endophytic fungi were isolated from medicinal trees in India, revealing significant fungal diversity. This study highlights the rich microbial communities residing within these important plant species.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Plant Pathology
- Biodiversity Studies
Background:
- Endophytic fungi reside within plant tissues, contributing to plant health and representing a vast genetic resource.
- Medicinal plants are crucial for traditional medicine and harbor unique microbial symbionts.
- Understanding endophytic fungal communities is vital for discovering novel bioactive compounds and ecological insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and identify endophytic fungi from the bark of ethnopharmaceutically significant medicinal trees in southern India.
- To assess the fungal diversity and community structure within these host plants.
- To investigate the distribution and prevalence of endophytic fungal species across different tree species and locations.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of endophytic fungi from inner bark segments of six medicinal tree species (Terminalia arjuna, Crataeva magna, Azadirachta indica, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Terminalia chebula, Butea monosperma).
- Cultivation and identification of fungal species from 2200 bark segments across 11 individual trees.
- Analysis of fungal community composition, including dominant groups (Mitosporic, Ascomycetes, sterile mycelia) and frequently isolated genera (Fusarium, Pestalotiopsis, etc.).
- Application of rarefaction indices to estimate species richness.
Main Results:
- Forty-eight fungal species were recovered from the bark tissues.
- Mitosporic fungi constituted the largest group (61%), followed by Ascomycetes (21%) and sterile mycelia (18%).
- Frequently isolated genera included Fusarium, Pestalotiopsis, Myrothecium, Trichoderma, Verticillium, and Chaetomium.
- Exclusive fungal taxa were found in five of the six studied plant species.
- Terminalia arjuna and Azadirachta indica exhibited the highest expected species richness (20 species each), followed by Crataeva magna (18 species).
Conclusions:
- The study successfully characterized endophytic fungal communities in important Indian medicinal trees.
- Medicinal trees harbor a diverse array of endophytic fungi, with distinct communities associated with specific host species.
- The findings underscore the potential of these endophytes as a source of novel fungal biodiversity and possibly bioactive compounds.