First report on Biological Evaluation and Preliminary Screening of Fungal Endophytes from Spilanthes paniculata, a Medicinal Herb in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Endophytes are important source of natural bioactive products because these fungal endophytes are able to take unique biological and ecological niches and grow in nonordinary environments. Many natural bioactive compounds produced by medicinal plants are reportedly produced by their fungal endophytes. Spilanthes paniculata (locally called Marsang in Arunachal Pradesh) is known to possess medicinal properties. In the present study, the endophytic mycoflora of S. paniculata was studied. In order to isolate fungal endophytes, 150 segments (50 leaf, 50 stem, and 50 root samples) of 15 different plants of S. paniculata were screened. Finally, 110 isolates consisting of twenty different fungal genera, out of which, seven belonged to the class Ascomycetes, twelve (Deuteromycetes) and one (Ulvophycetes). Among the parts studied, the highest species richness as well as frequency of colonization was reported in Leaf. Overall, colonization frequency was determined 73.33% of surface sterilized tissue. Colletotrichum was found to be the most dominant endophytic species followed by Fusarium, Manokwaria and Oncopodium. It is worth mentioning that the genera Pestalotiopsis, Drecheslra, Cylindrocladium, Aspergillus, Nodulisporium were, first reported from Arunachal Pradesh. The present study was therefore, initiated to study the endophytic fungal population in S. paniculata, a commonly used medicinal plant in Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India.

Isolation and identification of endophytic bacteria associated with kiwifruit and their biocontrol potential against Meloidogyne incognita

“…This study focused on the diversity of endophytic bacteria and the evaluation of biological control efficacy against M. incognita. A few plants have been studied for their endophytic organisms (Sharma et al 2018). There are many reports on the isolation of endophytic bacteria from kiwifruit.…”