title: Diversity and antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi associated with the alpine plant Saussurea involucrata.
abstract: Endophytic fungi are rich in species diversity and may play an important role in the fitness of their host plants. This study investigated the diversity and antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungi obtained from Saussurea involucrata KAR. et KIR. A total of 49 endophytic fungi were isolated from S. involucrata and identified using morphological and molecular techniques. Extracts of fermentation broth from the 49 fungi were tested for antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms using the agar diffusion method. Forty-eight out of the 49 endophytic fungi were identified and grouped into 14 taxa. Cylindrocarpon sp. was the dominant species isolated from S. involucrata, followed by Phoma sp. and Fusarium sp. Among the 49 endophytic fungi, 9 root isolates having darkly pigmented, septate hyphae were identified as dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungus, and 12 fungi inhibited at least one test microorganism. Moreover, 5 strains showed a broader spectrum of antimicrobial activity and 4 strains displayed strong inhibition (+++) against pathogenic fungi. The results indicate that endophytic fungi isolated from S. involucrata are diverse in species and a potential source of antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ya-li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Fu-sheng
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jin-long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yong-mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Xiang-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shun-xing
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010802:Phylogeny; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D030441:Saussurea / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer