The Endophytic Mycoflora of Bark, Leaf, and Stem Tissues of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Neem) from Varanasi (India)

Abstract

A systematic study was made of the endophytes of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (the neem tree) growing in several of its natural habitats in India. A total of 233 isolates of endophytic fungi representing 18 fungal taxa were obtained from segments of bark, stem, and leaves of this tree. Hyphomycetes (62.2%) were the most prevalent followed by the Coelomycetes (27.4%) and Mycelia Sterilia (7.7%). As mathematically determined, the maximum species richness and frequency of colonization of endophytes appeared in leaf segments rather than stem and bark tissues from each location. Endophytic colonization frequency was also greater in leaves (45.5%) than bark (31.5%). The leaf samples from all locations were nearly constant in their endophytic composition, whereas bark samples showed maximum diversity at different locations. Inter-site comparisons for endophytic diversity, however, were not significantly different with Loc1 and Loc2 having a maximum of 66.67% Jc. The smallest similarity was between Loc2 and Loc3 of 54.17% Jc. The dominant endophytic fungi isolated were Phomopsis oblonga, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Pestalotiopsis sp., Trichoderma sp, and Aspergillus sp. Genera such as Periconia, Stenella, and Drechslera are reported here for the first time as endophytes from this host plant. This report illustrates the value of sampling different tissues of a given plant in several locations to obtain the greatest species diversity of endophytes. The rich and sizeable collection of endophytic fungi from this specific plant may represent a unique source of one or more of the interesting and useful bioactive compounds normally associated with A. indica such as the azadirachtins and related tetranortriterpenoids.

Piperine production by endophytic fungus Periconia sp. Isolated from Piper longum L.

“…This particular strain was isolated from leaf tissues of P. longum and was recorded as an incidental rare strain (1/42 isolates). Members of Periconia have a very wide host range as an endophyte and have been reported from several other pharmaceutically important plants, such as Azadirachta indica, 33 Eucalyptus citriodora, 44 Torriya grandifolia etc. 45 The SEM study of this strain showed very prominent characteristic long conidiophores, dark, long, stout and shortly branched near the apex, bearing attached groups of conidiogenous cells at their tips (Figures 1a and b).…”

“…All sample tissues were then placed onto separate petri dishes (60 mm) containing potato dextrose agar supplemented with 250 mg l À1 oxytetracycline hydrochloride (Terramycin, Pfizer, Mumbai, India) for isolating endophytic fungi, 33 34 and nutrient agar for isolating endophytic bacteria. All petri dishes were sealed with sterile parafilm to protect them from contamination during repeated handling while examining endophytes, and from desiccation.…”

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by endophytic fungi: Its mechanism, characterization techniques and antimicrobial potential

“…The research on endophytic fungi and their huge diversity among plants has a long history. Recently it has been reported that each plant harbour one or more endophytic fungi (Verma et al, 2007;Kharwar et al, 2008). These endophytic fungi are an outstanding source of secondary metabolites which possess variety of bioactive potential.…”

Osmoregulatory and tegumental ultrastructural damages to protoscoleces of hydatid cysts Echinococcus granulosus induced by fungal endophytes

“…Isolation and preliminary screening of endophytes Surface treatment was performed by sequential dipping into 70 % ethanol for 1 min, 5 % NaOCl for 5 min, 96 % ethanol for 0.5 min, followed by three rinses in sterile distilled water as previously established method (Verma et al 2007(Verma et al , 2009a(Verma et al , 2011. All tissues were then placed onto separate petri dishes (60 mm) containing potato dextrose agar (PDA, Himedia, Mumbai) supplemented with 250 mg l -1 oxytetracycline hydrochloride (Terramycin, Pfizer) for isolating endophytic fungi.…”