Biotechnological applications of fungal endophytes associated with medicinal plant Asclepias sinaica (Bioss.)

Abstract

Fungal endophytes associated with medicinal plants have potential role to promote plant growth through different mechanisms. However, the biological and ecological roles of fungal endophytes still totally unexplored. In this study, three different fungal endophytes were isolated from the medicinal plant of Asclepias sinaica and identified as Penicillium chrysogenum Pc_25, Alternaria alternata Aa_27 and the third fungal strain was described as sterile hyphae Sh_26. It was recorded that, these endophytes had various ability to produce several extracellular enzymes including amylase, pectinase, cellulase, gelatinase, xylanase and tyrosinase. Their antimicrobial activities against different specific test organisms were investigated as well. In addition, both endophyte isolates i.e. Sh_26 and Aa_27 were found to promote root growth higher than Pc_25 and control treatments. These fungal isolates had a considerable impact on plant growth parameters including root elongation as a result of ammonia and IAA production. ª 2015 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University.

Diversity, taxonomic composition, and functional aspects of fungal communities in living, senesced, and fallen leaves at five sites across North America

“…However, cellulolytic activity was not correlated with finer-scale genetic relationships within Sordariomycetes and Dothideomycetes. Although some isolates demonstrated high levels of cellulolytic activity (e.g., Leotiomycetes representing the Rhytismataceae and Helotiaceae), our study differs from previous ones in that none of our isolates had detectable ligninolytic or pectinolytic activity (see Oono et al, 2014; Fouda et al, 2015). We detected differences in cellulolytic activity and growth rate on pectin-, lignin-, and cellulose media between Dothideomycetes fungi from living vs. non-living leaves.…”

Secondary metabolites from endophytic fungus from Lippia sidoides Cham.

“…This lends a great advantage to the study of the relationships between endophytes and their host plants (Fouda et al, 2015). Nevertheless, most of the time, these valuable bioactive compounds are scarce in nature; therefore, the development of a substitute approach for their efficient production is warranted (Kusari et al, 2013).…”

<b>Use of agro-industrial wastes as substrates for α-amylase production by endophytic fungi isolated from <i>Piper hispidum</i> Sw

“…Although amylases from Aspergillus and Bacillus strains have been employed in the industry for a long time (Souza & Magalhães, 2010), endophytes have been recently described as new sources of novel and useful enzymes. Moreover, endophytederived amylolytic enzymes are being assessed to improve industrial processes for polysaccharides and protein biodegradation (Fouda et al, 2015). Although the initial investigation on α-amylase activity of P. hispidum endophytes has been done, further studies should be undertaken to improve enzymatic production.…”

“…Although the filamentous fungal strains have a remarkable capacity of secreting extracellular proteins, filamentous endophytes remain under-exploited as enzymatic sources (Corrêa et al, 2014). These fungi colonize intra-and inter-cellular plant tissues, establishing a harmonious relationship without causing any apparent damage to the host plant (Fouda, Hassan, Eid, & Ewais, 2015). The microorganism obtains nutrients and shelter, while the plant receives protection against pathogens, herbivores and insects (Giménez, Cabrera, Reina, & González-Coloma, 2007;Alvin, Miller, & Neilan, 2014).…”