• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.731-738
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• 2019

Endophytic fungi are an important component of plant microbiota, and have the excellent capacity for producing a broad variety of bioactive metabolites. These bioactive metabolites not only affect the survival of the host plant, but also provide valuable lead compounds for novel drug discovery. In this study, forty-two endophytic filamentous fungi were isolated from Ficus elastica leaves, and further identified as seven individual taxa by ITS-rDNA sequencing. The antimicrobial activity of these endophytic fungi was evaluated against five pathogenic microorganisms. Two strains, Fes1711 (Penicillium funiculosum) and Fes1712 (Trichoderma harzianum), displayed broad-spectrum bioactivities. Our following study emphasizes the isolation, identification and bioactivity testing of chemical metabolites produced by T. harzianum Fes1712. Two new isocoumarin derivatives (1 and 2), together with three known compounds (3-5) were isolated, and their structures were elucidated using NMR and MS. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli. Our findings reveal that endophytic fungi from the rubber tree F. elastica leaves exhibit unique characteristics and are potential producers of novel natural bioactive products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1549-1556
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• 2012

Endophytic fungi were isolated from roots of six halophytes in Suncheon Bay. The endophytic fungi of 35 species isolated from halophytes were identified by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) containing the ITS1, 5.8s, and ITS2 regions. All fungal strains were analyzed to diversity at the genus level. Fungal culture filtrates (FCF) of endophytic fungi were treated to Waito-c rice (WR) seedling for plant growth-promoting verification. It was confirmed that fungal strain Sj-2-2 provided plant growth promotion (PGP) to WR seedling. Then, PGP of Suaeda japonica was confirmed by treating culture filtrate of Sj-2-2. As a result, it was verified that culture filtrate of Sj-2-2 had more advanced PGP than positive control when treated to S. japonica. The secondary metabolites involved in culture filtrate of Sj-2-2 were identified by HPLC and GC-MS SIM analysis. The presence of physiologically bioactive gibberellins (GAs) and other inactive GAs in culture filtrate of Sj-2-2 was detected. The molecular analysis of sequences of Sj-2-2 showed the similarity to Penicillium sp. of 99% homology. The PGP of Sj-2-2 as well as symbiosis between endophytic fungi and halophytes growing naturally in salt marsh was confirmed. Sj-2-2 was identified as a new fungal strain producing GAs by molecular analysis of sequences. Consequently, the Sj-2-2 fungal strain was named as Penicillium sp. Sj-2-2. In this study, the diversity of endophytic fungi isolated from roots of halophytes in salt marsh and the PGP of a new gibberellin-producing fungal strain were confirmed.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2021

Forty-three (n = 43) endophytic fungi with different morphologic characteristics were from a medicinal plant Sceletium tortuosum, were utilized to investigate their antifungal effectiveness against pathogenic fungi. All fungal isolates exhibited antifungal activity against one or more pathogens in the dual culture test whereas only 33 fungal culture filtrates (77%) showed decent antifungal effect. Fusaria and Aspergillus were the dominate genus that displayed significant antifungal activity. Isolates GG02, GG09, ND15, and ND17 showed the broadest spectrum of antifungal activity. Furthermore, culture filtrate of Fusarium sp. DR08 exhibited a broad range of antifungal activity against all the pathogens. The results suggest endophytic fungi isolated from medicinal plant might be a source of novel bioactive molecules. To the best our knowledge, this is the first report on endophytic fungi isolated from native kougoed exhibiting antifungal activity against plant fungal pathogens.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2023

In the present study, we isolated endophytic fungi from different tissues of two plants, Pseudosasa japonica and Quercus serrata from Taean-gun, Korea. Morphological characteristics of the isolated fungal strains were observed. We identified the fungi based on the phylogenetic analysis using DNA sequences from the region of internal transcribed spacer, large subunit rDNA, β-tubulin, and translation elongation factor 1-α DNA. Three endophytic fungi that were not previously recorded in Korea, namely Geomyces asperulatus, Leptoxyphium fumago, and Tubakia oblongispora were identified. Here, we describe the morphological characteristics of these unrecorded fungi and present the results of the phylogenetic analysis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.661-672
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• 2017

Endophytic fungi are present in host plants and contribute to resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Aquatic plants are living in aquatic environment such as saltwater or freshwater and exposed more water stress than other land plants. In this study, we investigated 4 wetlands in Jeju and collected 11 aquatic plants. Exogenous microbes were removed by preprocessing of plants and endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the plants. We isolated 126 fungal strains from Namsaengi-pond, 22 fungal strains from Sujangdong-marsh, 44 fungal strains from Yongsu-reservoir and 32 fungal strains from Gangjeongcheon. The fungal strains were identified using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and analyzed the phylogeny and diversity. Endophytic fungi isolated from plants of Namsaengi-pond were classified to 30 genera, 19 families, 12 orders, 7 classes and 4 phyla. Endophytic fungi of Sujangdong-marsh were classified to 11 genera, 11 families, 6 orders, 5 classes and 4 phyla. Endophytic fungi of Yongsu-reservoir were classified to 13 genera, 12 families, 7 orders, 5 classes and 4 phyla. Endophytic fungi isolated from Gangjeongcheon were classified to 9 genera, 7 families, 5 orders, 2 classes and 1 phyla. Overall, they were divided 40 genera and Alternaria, Colletotrichum and Fusarium were isolated from 4 sites in common. By investigating the endophytic fungi in aquatic plants, it is for baseline data that determination of diversity and the ecological distribution of endophytic fungi.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2014

Halophytes of seven species, Carex scabrifolia Steud., Limonium tetragonum Bullock, Salicornia europaea L., Suaeda glauca Bunge, Suaeda japonica Makino, Suaeda maritima Dumort., and Triglochin maritimum L. were collected from the Taean Peninsula. Thirty-seven endophytic fungi were isolated from the root of halophytes, and analyzed using the DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacers (ITS). The diversity of all endophytic fungi was analyzed using diversity indices. The endophytic fungi associated with the halophytes belonged to seven orders; Eurotiales (78%), Capnodiales (5%), Hypocreales (5%), Agaricales (3%), Corticiales (3%), Glomerellales (3%), and Pleosporales (3%). At the phylum level, the endophytic fungi were composed of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. At the genus level, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Phanerochaete, Schizophyllum, Talaromyces, and Verticillium were confirmed. Among them, Penicillium was the most abundant in the roots of the halophytes. This study analyzed the distribution and diversity of endophytic fungi on halophytes in the Taean Peninsula.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.651-658
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• 2010

Garcinia is commonly found in Malaysia, but limited information is available regarding endophytic fungi associated with this plant. In this study, 24 endophytic fungi were successfully recovered from different parts of two Garcinia species. Characterization of endophytic fungi was performed based on the conserved internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequence analysis and the antimicrobial properties. Results revealed that fruits of the plant appeared to be the highest inhabitation site (38%) as compared with others. Glomerella sp., Guignardia sp., and Phomopsis sp. appeared to be the predominant endophytic fungi group in Garcinia mangostana and Garcinia parvifolia. Phylogenetic relationships of the isolated endophytic fungi were estimated from the sequences of the ITS region. On the other hand, antibacterial screening showed 11 of the isolates possessed positive response towards pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria. However, there was no direct association between certain antibacterial properties with the specific genus observed.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.223-226
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• 2011

Endophytic fungi were isolated from the Pinus densiflora rootlet colonized by ectomycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma matsutake. Eighteen species of endophytic fungi were identified by analyzing rDNA-ITS sequence. As the result of the rDNA-ITS analysis, ascomycota of 15 species and Mucoromycotina of 3 species were isolated. Of all the endophytic fungi isolated, Penicillium sp. was confirmed as the highest frequency.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.147-151
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• 2014

We investigated the diversity of the foliar endophytes of Korean ginseng. Endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy leaves of mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG) and field-cultivated ginseng (FCG) at 4 sites in Chungbuk Province. A total of 24 species of fungal endophytes were identified using molecular approaches. Additionally, the diversity of these endophytic fungi was compared between MCG and FCG. The major isolated endophytes were Edenia gomezpompae and Gibberella moniliformis in the MCG and FCG samples, respectively. The results suggest that ginseng endophytes have different community structures in different environments, and this understanding may prove useful in ginseng cultivation.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2019

We isolated endophytic fungi from the conifer leaves of Pinus densiflora inhabiting Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea. We identified the isolated fungal strains based on phylogenetic analysis performed using the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer, large subunit, and beta-tubulin. We confirmed the presence of three novel endophytic fungi in Korea, namely Paracamarosporium hawaiiense, Tubakia dryina, and Zasmidium fructigenum. In this report, we described the morphological characteristics of these fungal strains and the results of their phylogenetic analysis.