Revisiting the Endophytic Fungi Residing Within Axonopus compressus: Molecular Identification, Antagonistic Potential, and Extracellular Enzyme Activities

Endophytic fungi colonize plant tissues asymptomatically and may contribute to host fitness and protection against biotic stresses. This study characterized the endophytic fungal community associated with healthy leaves of lawn grass (Axonopus compressus) and evaluated the extracellular enzyme activities and antagonistic potential of the recovered isolates against selected banana crown rot pathogens. Molecular identification revealed a diverse assemblage of fungal taxa, including species of Curvularia, Colletotrichum, Diaporthe, Xylaria, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. In dual-culture assay, all tested isolates exhibited antagonistic activity against the target pathogens, with mycelial growth inhibition ranging from 16.67% to 70.00%. The isolates displayed variable extracellular enzyme profiles, producing cellulase, protease, lipase, pectinase, and amylase at different levels. These differences in enzyme activities suggest functional differentiation among the endophytic fungi and may reflect distinct resource-use strategies within the leaf microenvironment. The observed antagonistic activity may be associated, at least in part, with extracellular enzyme production, although the contribution of individual enzymes to pathogen suppression requires further investigation. Overall, the findings highlight A. compressus as a reservoir of functionally diverse, enzyme-producing fungal endophytes with antagonistic potential against banana crown rot pathogens, providing promising candidates for further evaluation as biological control agents for sustainable banana disease management.