Diversity and antimicrobial activity of culturable endophytic fungi isolated from moso bamboo seeds.
Bamboos, regarded as therapeutic agents in ethnomedicine, have been used to inhibit inflammation and enhance natural immunity for a long time in Asia, and there are many bamboo associated fungi with medical and edible value. In the present study, a total of 350 fungal strains were isolated from the uncommon moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) seeds for the first time. The molecular diversity of these endophytic fungi was investigated and bioactive compound producers were screened for the first time. All the fungal endophytes were categorized into 69 morphotypes according to culturable characteristics and their internal transcriber spacer (ITS) regions were analyzed by BLAST search with the NCBI database. The fungal isolates showed high diversity and were divided in Ascomycota (98.0%) and Basidiomycota (2.0%), including at least 19 genera in nine orders. Four particular genera were considered to be newly recorded bambusicolous fungi, including Leptosphaerulina, Simplicillium, Sebacina and an unknown genus in Basidiomycetes. Furthermore, inhibitory effects against clinical pathogens and phytopathogens were screened preliminarily and strains B09 (Cladosporium sp.), B34 (Curvularia sp.), B35 (undefined genus 1), B38 (Penicillium sp.) and zzz816 (Shiraia sp.) displayed broad-spectrum activity against clinical bacteria and yeasts by the agar diffusion method. The crude extracts of isolates B09, B34, B35, B38 and zzz816 under submerged fermentation, also demonstrated various levels of bioactivities against bambusicolous pathogenic fungi. This study is the first report on the antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi associated with moso bamboo seeds, and the results show that they could be exploited as a potential source of bioactive compounds and plant defense activators. In addition, it is the first time that strains of Shiraia sp. have been isolated and cultured from moso bamboo seeds, and one of them (zzz816) could produce hypocrellin A at high yield, which is significantly different from the other strains published.
College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Xiao-Ye
XY
Shen
College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Yan-Lin
YL
Cheng
Key Laboratory of Bamboo and Rattan Science and Technology of the SFA, International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Chun-Ju
CJ
Cai
College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Li
L
Fan
Key Laboratory of Bamboo and Rattan Science and Technology of the SFA, International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Jian
J
Gao
College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Cheng-Lin
CL
Hou
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D031723:Bambusa / Q000382:microbiology*; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012639:Seeds / Q000382:microbiology*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer