Antifungal activity of extracts from endophytic fungi associated with  Smallanthus  maintained in vitro as autotrophic cultures and as pot plants in the greenhouse.
The endophytic fungal assemblages associated with  Smallanthus sonchifolius  (Poepp.) H. Rob. and  Smallanthus uvedalius  (L.) Mack. ex Small growing in vitro autotrophic cultures and in the greenhouse were identified and evaluated for their ability to produce bioactive compounds. A total of 25 isolates were recovered that were genetically closely related to species of the genera  Bionectria ,  Cladosporium ,  Colletotrichum ,  Fusarium ,  Gibberella ,  Hypocrea ,  Lecythophora ,  Nigrospora ,  Plectosphaerella , and  Trichoderma . The endophytic assemblages of S. sonchifolius presented a greater diversity than the group isolated from S. uvedalius and demonstrated the presence of dominant generalist fungi. Extracts of all fungi were screened against the fungal plant pathogens. Ten extracts (41.6%) displayed antifungal activities; some of them had a broad antifungal activity. The phylotypes Lecythophora sp. 1, Lecythophora sp. 2, and  Fusarium oxysporum  were isolated from in vitro autotrophic cultures and displayed antifungal activity. The presence of bioactive endophytic fungi within S. sonchifolius and S. uvedalius suggests an ecological advantage against pathogenic attacks. This study revealed reduced numbers of endophytes in association with both  Smallanthus  species in controlled cultivation conditions compared with the endophytic communities of hosts collected in the wild environments. Even as reduced endophytic communities, these fungi continue to provide chemical protection for the host.
Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, P.O. Box 486, CEP 31270-901, Brazil. lhrosa@icb.ufmg.br
Luiz H
LH
Rosa
Nurhayat
N
Tabanca
Natascha
N
Techen
Zhiqiang
Z
Pan
David E
DE
Wedge
Rita M
RM
Moraes
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D044822:Biodiversity; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D060026:Endophytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012340:RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S / Q000235:genetics
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012340:RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S