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Cancer is a disease with a high prevalence and mortality rate globally. Indonesia's biodiversity has potential to be a source of medicinal ingredients. Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff) Boerl is known to contain active metabolites with potential anticancer properties. Some endophytes are reported to be able to produce secondary metabolites similar to those of their parent plants. This study aimed to obtain endophytic fungi from P. macrocarpa that can produce compounds with anticancer properties. Endophytes producing such compounds were explored by screening endophytic fungi producing secondary metabolites from parts P. macrocarpa that was collected from the Yogyakarta area. The anticancer bioassay was performed in vitro using cancer cells T47D, MCF7, HeLa, and normal Vero cells. Potential extracts were traced for their mechanisms of cell cycle modulation and apoptosis using flow cytometry. Fungal identification was conducted on fungi producing potential cytotoxic extracts. The compound content was then analyzed using LC-HRMS (Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry). Results from the six extracts obtained from fruit, leaf, and stem parts showed that the endophytic extract from the leaves (code PC-L2) had the best cytotoxicity compared to other extracts and demonstrated the best result on MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 110.66 µg/mL. The produced PC-L2 extract fungi are closely associated with Clonostachys wenpingii strain DUCC5606. This extract induced apoptosis, but not through the mechanism of cell cycle modulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】To provide a reference for finding eco-friendly antibacterial agents, the diversity of endophytic fungi in the medicinal plant Thespesia populnea in mangroves and their antifungal and antibacterial activities were studied. 【Method】Endophytic fungi were isolated and purified from the stem, leaf and bark tissues of the medicinal plant T. populnea in Guangxi Beibu Gulf mangroves, and identified by a combination of morphology and molecular biology. Colletotrichum from Diospyros kaki, Juglans regia, Litchi chinensis, and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense 1（FOC1), Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense 4（FOC4), and Alternaria cucumerina from Cucumis sativus, as well as endophytic fungus Alternaria alternata from Avicennia marina, and Streptococcus iniae from Oreochromis niloticus, were selected as indicator organisms. The antifungal and antibacterial activities of endophytic fungal extracts were screened by plate confrontation method and filter paper method. 【Result】A total of 60 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated and purified from T. populnea, belonging to 5 genera and 25 species. Among them, the genera Colletotrichum and Diaporthe were dominant, with the isolation rates of 48. 33% and 26. 67%, respectively. The rest were Botryosphaeria, Didymella and Cryptosporella, with isolation rates of 15. 00%, 6. 70% and 3. 33% respectively. The most strains were isolated from the bark tissue of T. populnea, with a total of 4 genera and 23 strains, accounting for 38. 33% of the total isolation amount, followed by leaf tissue（31. 67%) and stem tissue（30. 00%). In addition, 12 endophytic fungi were found to have ITS rDNA sequence similarity of less than 95. 00% with NCBI database, indicating that they might be potential new species. The results of antifungal and antibacterial activities indicated that J1-20 had strong antifungal and antibacterial activities against the 8 selected indicator organisms. The antifungal rates against Colletotrichum of D. kaki, Colletotrichum of J. regia, Colletotrichum of L. chinensis, FOC1 and FOC4, A. cucumerina from C. sativus, A. alternata from A. marina, were 39. 39%, 25. 00%, 19. 10%, 32. 43%, 28. 20%, 89. 00% and 74. 19%, respectively. Meanwhile, the inhibitory zone of J1-20 against S. iniae was 21. 00 mm. 【Conclusion】The endophytic fungi in T. populnea have rich diversity and relatively uniform distribution. Among them, J1-20 has broad-spectrum antifungal and antibacterial activities against 8 indicator organisms and has good development potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW) Dryocosmus kuriphilus has been reported to have a high incidence in Italy and other Mediterranean basin countries. In 2021-2022, a study was undertaken in the Basilicata Region (Southern Italy) to investigate the relationship between the galls produced by ACGW on sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) and fungal pathogens. In particular, the fungal diversity from green and necrotic galls collected from two important sweet chestnut sites (Melfi and Rionero in Vulture) was investigated. Nineteen fungal taxa were identified based on their morphological and molecular traits. In both localities, the most frequent species isolated from green and necrotic galls were Gnomoniopsis castaneae, Colletotrichum acutatum, and Pestalotiopsis sp. It is essential to understand the role played by the galls as an inoculum source for sweet chestnut fungal pathogens, particularly for G. castaneae, an emerging pathogen of which biology is still poorly understood. Findings from the present study stressed that the complex relationship between host-insectmicrobial community needs to be elucidated to be able to control the pathogenic fungi and consequently maintain sweet chestnut trees' health as they play a key role in the local agriculture (horticulture, forestry) and subsidiary economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic fungi produced attractive primary and secondary metabolites for industries, pharmacology, and biotechnology. The bioactive potential of HE19ct, identified as Penicillium brevicompactum according to ITS-BenA-caM, was addressed. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and secondary metabolite contents using four culture media in Agar-plate (ApF) and Submerged (SmF) fermentation were evaluated. Some plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and their related genes were tested. HE19ct exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus , Enterococcus faecalis , Candida albicans , C. tropicalis , Fusarium sp., Geotrichum candidum , and Alternaria sp. All cultures showed DPPH scavenging activity and phenolic compounds, where ethyl acetate extract of SmF with malt extract showed higher activity and SmF/ApF with potato-dextrose exhibited higher yield, respectively. HE19ct solubilized tricalcium-phosphate and produced siderophore, endoglucanase, proteinase, and amylase. It enhanced the alfalfa's germination at 15 °C, root development, and phenols production at 15 and 24 °C. Phenols, tannins, anthraquinones, triterpenoids/steroids, and alkaloids production were detected depending on culture media. Polyketide synthase type I gene (PksI), subtilisin-like protease prb 1 (Pbr), and siderophore D (sidD) were PCR-amplified. Finally, HE19CT could be a promising source of interesting bioactive compounds for pharmacology and agriculture mainly in extreme conditions, then metabolomic and functional genetic research must be performed to support their appropriate application. • P. brevicompactum HE19ct exhibits wide antimicrobial activity in different methods. • HE19ct yields antioxidants, phenols, and other secondary metabolites. • HE19ct has some plant growth-promoting traits and enhances the growth of "alfalfa". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glucosinolates of Brassicaceae plants are converted into bioactive isothiocyanates and other volatiles during a challenge by pathogens and other biotic stressors. However, the role of alternative downstream products with weaker potency (e.g., nitriles) is far from being fully understood. This study tested the possible synergistic antifungal interaction between various glucosinolate-derived nitriles and 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on 45 fungal strains, including endophytes from horseradish roots (Brassicaceae) and soil fungi, using an airtight system enabling the accurate study of extremely volatile antifungal agents. The median minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 1.28, 6.10, 27.00 and 49.72 mM for 1H-indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN), 3-phenylpropanenitrile (PPN), 4-(methylsulfanyl)-butanenitrile (MSBN) and 3-butenenitrile (BN, = allyl cyanide), respectively. Thus, nitriles were considerably weaker antifungal agents compared to PEITC with a median MIC of 0.04 mM. For the same nitriles, the median fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) of the combinations were 0.562, 0.531, 0.562 and 0.625, respectively. Altogether, 47.7%, 56.8%, 50.0% and 27.3% of tested fungal strains showed a synergistic antifungal activity (FICI ≤ 0.5) for the nitrile–isothiocyanate combinations, respectively. Hypocreales strains showed the least sensitivity towards the GSL decomposition products and their combinations. The mean MIC values for PEITC showed 0.0679 ± 0.0358, 0.0400 ± 0.0214, 0.0319 ± 0.0087 and 0.0178 ± 0.0171 mM for Hypocreales, Eurotiales, Glomerellales and Pleosporales, respectively. In addition, nitriles, especially IAN, also showed significant differences. For the same fungi, the median FICI values fell in the ranges of 0.61–0.67, 0.52–0.61, 0.40–0.50 and 0.48–0.67, respectively, depending on the nitrile. Our results suggest that glucosinolate-derived nitriles may enhance isothiocyanate antifungal activity and that they may play an active role in shaping the plant microbiome and contribute to the filtering of microbes by plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vateria indica is persistent tree used in Unani sources for the medication and classified as critically endangered. Thus, endophytes for alternative methods to explore these endangered Plants having rich source pharmaceuticals' active molecules for drug development and production. Endophytes comprises unexplored microbes as a potential source of rich pharmaceutically bioactive compounds attributable to their relationship with the host. In the current study, we have isolated endophyte fungi Cladosporium from the plant Vateria indica and performed phytochemical screening of its ethanolic extract to detect the phytochemicals using thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV–visible spectrophotometry (UV–VIS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of an anticancer compound hydroxymethyl colchicine, antioxidant compound benzoic acid, and antimicrobial 2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-5-nitro in endophyte fungal extract of plant Vateria indica. Moreover, in silico analysis of bioactive compounds identified by GC–MS analysis using the Autodock Vina and SwissADME confirmed excellent anticancer activity methanone, [4-amino-2-[(phenylmethyl) amino]-5-thiazolyl] (4-fluorophenyl)- and hydroxymethyl colchicine against 6VO4 (Bfl-1 protein) as per Lipinski rule. Furthermore, we also demonstrated the excellent antioxidant of endophytic extract compared to plant extract by DPPH and ABTS assay, as well as antimicrobial activity against both Gram (+ ve) and Gram (− ve) bacteria. Moreover, the endophytic extract also showed its antimitotic activity with a mitotic index of 65.32, greater than the plant extract of 32.56 at 10 mg/ml. Thus endophytic fungi Cladosporium species isolated from plant Vateria indica might be used as a potential source for phytochemical anticancer hydroxymethyl colchicine, an antioxidant benzoic acid, and antimicrobial 2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-5-nitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolated endophyte fungi from Mappia foetida have been explored as a potential source for the mass production of anticancer drug lead compounds in the current study. Since medical plants are not feasible economically for mass production of bioactive pharmaceutical important molecules using plant tissue culture due to factors like media design and fungal contamination, endophyte fungal mass culture have been an alternative for the relatively easy and inexpensive production. Two endophytic fungi isolated, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium species were mass cultured and their prepared alcoholic extract subjected to standard procedures to identify the phytochemical screening by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV visible spectrophotometry (UV–VIS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of three major compounds in the extracts. The phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of an anticancer compound (camptothecin) in their extract. Moreover, the dose-dependent anticancer activity of ethanol extract was demonstrated against cervical carcinoma (HeLa), breast carcinoma (MCF-7), non-small cell lung carcinoma (H1975), and hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep G2) by MTT assay where doxorubicin was used as the positive control. Furthermore, the microscopic examination also confirmed the cytotoxic effect of extract of endophytic fungi Alternaria alternata and Fusarium species against tested cancer cells. Hence, endophytic fungi Alternaria alternata and Fusarium species might be exploited for mass production of phytochemicals having anticancer activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glucosinolates of Brassicaceae plants are converted into bioactive isothiocyanates and other volatiles during a challenge by pathogens and other biotic stressors. However, the role of alternative downstream products with weaker potency (e.g., nitriles) is far from being fully understood. This study tested the possible synergistic antifungal interaction between various glucosinolate-derived nitriles and 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on 45 fungal strains, including endophytes from horseradish roots (Brassicaceae) and soil fungi, using an airtight system enabling the accurate study of extremely volatile antifungal agents. The median minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 1.28, 6.10, 27.00 and 49.72 mM for 1H-indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN), 3-phenylpropanenitrile (PPN), 4-(methylsulfanyl)-butanenitrile (MSBN) and 3-butenenitrile (BN, = allyl cyanide), respectively. Thus, nitriles were considerably weaker antifungal agents compared to PEITC with a median MIC of 0.04 mM. For the same nitriles, the median fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) of the combinations were 0.562, 0.531, 0.562 and 0.625, respectively. Altogether, 47.7%, 56.8%, 50.0% and 27.3% of tested fungal strains showed a synergistic antifungal activity (FICI ≤ 0.5) for the nitrile–isothiocyanate combinations, respectively. Hypocreales strains showed the least sensitivity towards the GSL decomposition products and their combinations. The mean MIC values for PEITC showed 0.0679 ± 0.0358, 0.0400 ± 0.0214, 0.0319 ± 0.0087 and 0.0178 ± 0.0171 mM for Hypocreales, Eurotiales, Glomerellales and Pleosporales, respectively. In addition, nitriles, especially IAN, also showed significant differences. For the same fungi, the median FICI values fell in the ranges of 0.61–0.67, 0.52–0.61, 0.40–0.50 and 0.48–0.67, respectively, depending on the nitrile. Our results suggest that glucosinolate-derived nitriles may enhance isothiocyanate antifungal activity and that they may play an active role in shaping the plant microbiome and contribute to the filtering of microbes by plants.

Uncaria cordata (Lour). Merr (akar kaik-kaik) is one of the medicinal plants used as antibacterial because it contains bioactive compounds that can inhibit the growth of microorganisms. The plant is one of the sources of endophyte fungal isolates that can be developed as an alternative to producing antibacterial compounds. This research aimed to isolate the endophytic fungus from the leaves of U. cordata and know the antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes and Escherichia coli by disc diffusion. The Fungi that were isolated from the leaves of U. cordata were 17 isolates. The isolates were continued for antibacterial activity testing: IFED 1 (Nigrospora sp.), IFED 2 (Aspergillus sp.), IFED 3 (Fusarium sp.), and IFED 4, whose genus was unknown. The results obtained were fungal isolates IFED 1 to IFED 4 had activity in inhibiting the growth of P. acnes with moderate category (18.16 mm) and weak categories (6.21 mm, 6.16 mm, and 6.68 mm) and in E. coli with moderate category (14.56 mm) and weak categories (6.53 mm, 6.71 mm, and 7.23 mm). The results of One Way ANOVA and Tukey's test showed a significant difference (p

The current study aimed to evaluate the biodiversity and antagonistic potential of 22 endophytic fungal species belonging to 10 endophytic genera, namely Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Gliocladium, Nigrospora, Penicillium, Pochonia, Scopulariopsis, and Stachybotrys, along with 2 morphospecies of mycelia, namely a yellow sterile septate mycelium (YSSM) and a dark sterile septate mycelium (DSSM), living within healthy Triticum aestivum L. against nine wheat pathogenic fungi identified as Alternaria alternata, Alternaria cichorii, Alternaria dianthi, Alternaria sonchi, Aspergillus petrakii, Curvularia penniseti, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium semitectum, and Fusarium solani obtained from naturally infected plants. The highest count and frequency in T. aestivum were recorded for Fusarium subglutinans (n = 81 and Rf = 34.91%) followed by DSSM (n = 32 and Rf = 13.79%). In vitro DSSM studies showed the highest antagonistic activity of 56.52% reduction against A. petrakii, while F. subglutinans inhibited F. semitectum by 72.97%. These two endophytic isolates were then selected as fungal bioagents to control root rot disease in wheat caused by A. petrakii and F. semitectum under greenhouse conditions. Wheat plants growing from seeds inoculated with DSSM were more resistant to root rot disease in soil infected with A. petrakii, and they showed reduced root rot severity percentage (15.56%) and disease index (0.27) compared to the values of 40% and 1.13, respectively, for these parameters in untreated plants. Furthermore, treatment of seeds with F. subglutinans before planting in soil infected with F. semitectum reduced the disease severity percentage and the disease index from 50% and 2.20 to 20% and 0.47, respectively. These endophytic fungi also markedly increased the growth parameters (length, fresh weight, and dry weight of shoots and roots) of wheat plants growing in soils infected with these phytopathogens. The present study showed that wheat is a promising ecological niche for different fungal endophytes that assist their host plants to survive and resist the harmful effects of phytopathogenic fungi, improve wheat growth, and develop fungal strains as biological control solutions against wheat diseases.

Mangrove plants have long been utilized as traditional medicinal ingredients for treatments of various diseases in favor of bioactive components from its secondary metabolites. Mangroves may contain endophyte fungi in their tissues that are capable of producing secondary metabolites. In theory, endophyte fungi isolated from a plant can produce secondary metabolites similar to those of the original plants or even in relatively high numbers. In this research, mangrove species Avicennia marina was sampled from Blanakan, Subang District, West Java. Endophyte fungi were isolated from the mangrove roots that had been obtained. The experimental method was used to test antioxidant activity using DPPH (1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazyl) method and phytochemical content, with three replicates for each test. Fungal isolates were coded according to the distance of the roots from the main mangrove tree, namely STAD and STAJ that represents "close" and "far" roots. Our results showed that the environmental parameters, namely salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature meet the quality standards and mangrove life in the tropics. The A. marina type of substrate muddy soil which did not meet the quality standards for mangrove waters. As for antioxidant activity, both extracts could reduce DPPH free radicals. Further determination of the IC50 value of the two extracts showed that the endophytic fungi STAD and STAJ had IC50 values of 97.8 ppm (classified as strong) and 822.56 ppm (classified as very weak) in the DPPH radical immersion method. The phytochemical test revealed that the two extracts of fungal isolates contain bioactive compounds, where flavonoids and alkaloids were identified in isolate STAD, whereas STAJ was positive for tannins and alkaloids content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypocrellin is a natural 3,10-xylene-4,9-anthracene derivative compound that originates from the stroma of Shiraia bambusicola (S. bambusicola) and Hypocrella bambusae with excellent photobiological activities. Submerged fermentation with the mycelia of S. bambusicola is generally regarded as an ideal technology for hypocrellin production. This study developed a co-cultivation strategy for an obvious promotion of the hypocrellin yield by incubating S. bambusicola (GDMCC 60438) with the endophyte fungus Arthrinium sp. AF-5 isolated from the bamboo tissue. The results indicated that the yield of hypocrellin A (HA) reached a 66.75 mg/g carbon source after an 84-h co-cultivation of the two strains, which was a four-time increase of that by the fermentation only with the S. bambusicola. The microscope observation found that the mycelia of the two strains were intertwined with each other to form the mycelium pellets during the co-cultivation. Moreover, the mycelium pellets of the co-culture showed a contracted and slightly damaged morphology. The addition of H2O2 in the fermentation media could further increase the HA production by 18.31%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic fungi have been studied in recent decades to understand how they interact with their hosts, the types of relationships they establish, and the potential effects of this interaction. Dark septate endophytes (DSE) are isolated from healthy plants and form melanised structures in the roots, including inter- and intracellular hyphae and microsclerotia, causing low host specificity and covering a wide geographic range. Many studies have revealed beneficial relationships between DSE and their hosts, such as enhanced plant growth, nutrient uptake, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Furthermore, in recent decades, studies have revealed the ability of DSE to mitigate the negative effects of crop diseases, thereby highlighting DSE as potential biocontrol agents of plant diseases (BCAs). Given the importance of these fungi in nature, this article is a review of the role of DSE as BCAs. The findings of increasing numbers of studies on these fungi and their relationships with their plant hosts are also discussed to enable their use as a tool for the integrated management of crop diseases and pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, AgNPs have been prepared using an extract of Exserohilum rostrata, an endophyte fungus isolated from Ocimum tenuiflorum leaf and characterized using TEM, SEM, DLS, XRD, FT-IR, etc. The FT-IR analysis confirmed the capping of AgNPs with bioactive molecules of endophyte extract, thereby importing addition or enhancing inherent AgNPs therapeutic properties. Both endophyte extract and AgNPs offered significant inhibition in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Further, we also demonstrated its ability to inhibit bacterial biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Furthermore, we also demontrated excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of both endophyte extract and AgNPs. Moreover, we observed ehanced antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity of AgNPs which is due to the synergistic effect of the bioactive agent forming the corona of AgNPs and with inhabitant activity of AgNPs. We also demonstrated the antimitotic activity in A. cepa and antiproliferative activity in breast cancer cells. AgNPs have also found to be excellent compatibility with healthy human keratinocyte cells and RBC cells. Hence, we might say that biogenically synthesized AgNPs using endophyte extract possess anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant ability as well as antiproliferative activity in breast cancer cells and thus possible found its application in the biomedical industry due to it's eco-friendly and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to evaluate the biodiversity and antagonistic potential of 22 endophytic fungal species belonging to 10 endophytic genera, namely Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Gliocladium, Nigrospora, Penicillium, Pochonia, Scopulariopsis, and Stachybotrys, along with 2 morphospecies of mycelia, namely a yellow sterile septate mycelium (YSSM) and a dark sterile septate mycelium (DSSM), living within healthy Triticum aestivum L. against nine wheat pathogenic fungi identified as Alternaria alternata, Alternaria cichorii, Alternaria dianthi, Alternaria sonchi, Aspergillus petrakii, Curvularia penniseti, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium semitectum, and Fusarium solani obtained from naturally infected plants. The highest count and frequency in T. aestivum were recorded for Fusarium subglutinans (n = 81 and Rf = 34.91%) followed by DSSM (n = 32 and Rf = 13.79%). In vitro DSSM studies showed the highest antagonistic activity of 56.52% reduction against A. petrakii, while F. subglutinans inhibited F. semitectum by 72.97%. These two endophytic isolates were then selected as fungal bioagents to control root rot disease in wheat caused by A. petrakii and F. semitectum under greenhouse conditions. Wheat plants growing from seeds inoculated with DSSM were more resistant to root rot disease in soil infected with A. petrakii, and they showed reduced root rot severity percentage (15.56%) and disease index (0.27) compared to the values of 40% and 1.13, respectively, for these parameters in untreated plants. Furthermore, treatment of seeds with F. subglutinans before planting in soil infected with F. semitectum reduced the disease severity percentage and the disease index from 50% and 2.20 to 20% and 0.47, respectively. These endophytic fungi also markedly increased the growth parameters (length, fresh weight, and dry weight of shoots and roots) of wheat plants growing in soils infected with these phytopathogens. The present study showed that wheat is a promising ecological niche for different fungal endophytes that assist their host plants to survive and resist the harmful effects of phytopathogenic fungi, improve wheat growth, and develop fungal strains as biological control solutions against wheat diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Some entomopathogenic fungi act as endophytes and promote plant growth. Such benefits can be explained by improvements in physiological processes. In this research, the effect of commercial strains of entomopathogenic endophytic fungi and isolates from agricultural soils of San Luis Potosi on growth, photosynthesis, gas exchange and production in poblano chili plants was evaluated, considering the effect of the inoculation method used. Methodology: Poblano chili plants (Capsicum annuum L.) was used as a model which was sown under controlled conditions and in a greenhouse. Seven HEE strains were evaluated: three native isolates from agricultural soils of San Luis Potosi that by their characteristics belong to the genus Metarhizium (RV01 strain), Paecilomyces (RV05 strain) and Penicillium (SL14 strain); two strains isolated from insects, Beauveria bassiana [(Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. 1992] (BB42 strain) and Metarhizium anisopliae [(Metschn.) Sorokin 1883) (MA25 strain) and two commercial strains of B. bassiana (BB09 strain) and M. anisopliae (MA25 strain). A conidial solution was prepared, and two methods were tested: 1) seed inoculation; and 2) substrate spraying and a second application when the first true leaf emerged. Controls were included in each treatment (water and the surfactant were inoculated). Photosynthetic parameters (maximum and effective efficiency of PSII, photochemical and non-photochemical dissipation, electron transfer rate), gas exchange parameters (net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration) and colonization percentage of steam, leaf and root were evaluated during the experiment. At the end of the experiment total dried biomass, dry weight of the aerial part of the plant and the root, and root length was measured. Results: At 33 days after inoculation it was observed how inoculation with RV01, MA25, BB09 and SL14 increased CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance, with respect to controls, when inoculated by seed or by spraying. Inoculation directly over the seed significantly improved CO2 assimilation, photochemical quenching, and effective efficiency of PSII comparing to plants inoculated by foliar spraying. The isolate RV05 stood out due to the results observed in the greenhouse, with a higher total biomass production. The plants inoculated by seed showed an increase in the production of total biomass, and in the dry weight of the aerial part and roots with respect to the plants inoculated by aspersion. Greater growth in plants was associated with endophytic colonization. Conclusion: HEE isolated from agricultural soils of San Luis Potosi can compete with commercial strains in promoting growth in poblano chili plants in greenhouse. Direct seed inoculation of endophytic entomopathogenic fungi generated better results, although with variations depending on the strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The harsh environments of desert areas lead to natural selection of resistant creatures with obvious characteristics. This experiment looked for salt-tolerant fungi from native halophyte plants. Forty fungi isolated from three halophyte plant families that were collected from desert areas of Yazd Province in Iran, and the most tolerant isolates were selected at concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 3.5 and 4 molar sodium chloride. Five selected superior isolates were assigned to the phylum Ascomycota based on internal transcribed spacers sequences and β-tubulin gene, as well as morphological characteristics of the genus and species. Aspergillus terreus showed superiority in terms of enzymes and antibacterial properties than other isolates. Other isolates were Acremonium, Paecilomyces, Microascus and Monosorascus. Aspergillus terreus also showed antifungal effects against Aspergillus fumigatus, a human pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 20% of irrigated land has been influenced by salt stress, decreasing crop production. In this research, we investigated the effect of different levels of salinity (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl) and the efficiency of Piriformospora indica on growth, biochemical traits, antioxidative defense system in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). NaCl stress reduced chlorophyll content, height and biomass of plants. Higher level of salinity (150 mM) declined the plant height by 22.65%, total dry weight by 56.44% and total chlorophyll by 44.34%, however, P. indica inoculation raised plant height by 43.47%, dry weight by 69.23% and total chlorophyll content by 48.09%. Salinity stress increased H2O2, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) level in leaves and roots tomato seedlings. However, P. indica inoculation reduced H2O2, MDA and superoxide anion and enhanced DPPH compared to non-inoculated plants at all NaCl levels. The total phenol and flavonoids increased with NaCl treatment. On the other hand, the total phenolic and flavonoid increased more in P. indica inoculated plants compared to non-inoculated ones. Moreover, inoculation of P. indica implicated noteworthy improvement of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and glutathione reductase (GR) activity in tomato upon salinity. Notably, colonization with P. indica significantly improved the content of reduced ascorbic acid (AsA), glutathione (GSH) and redox ratio in the tomato plants under salinity resulting in reduced redox state. Our findings confirmed that salinity had negative effect on tomato seedling; however, P. indica inoculation increased tolerance to salinity by improving the content of phenolic compounds, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Salinity is now an increasingly serious environmental issue that affects the growth and yield of many plants. In the present work, the influence of inoculation with the symbiotic fungus, Piriformospora indica, on gas exchange, water potential, osmolyte content, Na/K ratio and chlorophyll fluorescence of tomato plants under three salinity levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 m m NaCl) and three time periods (5, 10 and 15 days after exposure to salt) was investigated. Results indicate that P. indica inoculation improved growth parameters of tomato under salinity stress. This symbiotic fungus significantly increased photosynthetic pigment content under salinity, and more proline and glycine betaine accumulated in inoculated roots than in non‐inoculated roots. P. indica further significantly improved K+ content and reduced Na+ level under salinity treatment. After inoculation with the endophytic fungus, leaf physiological parameters, such as water potential, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration, were all higher under the salt concentrations and durations compared with controls without P. indica. With increasing salt level and salt treatment duration, values of F0 and qP increased but Fm, Fv/Fm, F′v/F′m and NPQ declined in the controls, while inoculation with P. indica improved these values. The results indicate that the negative effects of NaCl on tomato plants were alleviated after P. indica inoculation, probably by improving physiological parameters such as water status and photosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophyte microorganisms are organisms that live inside plants without causing any apparent damage to their hosts. Since all plants exhibit endophyte microorganisms, it is believed that mutual association is of great importance in nature. Luehea divaricata (Martius & Zuccarini), known popularly in Brazil as agoita-cavalo, is a big-sized tree with a wide distribution in the country that possesses medicinal qualities for: dysentery, leucorrhea, rheumatism, blennorrhoea, tumors, bronchitis, and depuration. This research aims at isolating and molecularly characterizing fungi isolates from L. divaricata by sequence analysis of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA. Further, the colonization of endophyte in the host plant by Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy will also be investigated. Whereas, genera Alternaria, Cochliobolus, Diaporthe, Epicoccum, Guignardia, Phoma, and Phomopsis, were identified; rDNA sequence analysis revealed intra-species variability among endophyte isolates of the genus Phomopsis sp. Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy techniques showed the presence of endophyte fungi inside L. divaricata leaves, inhabiting inter- and intra-cellular spaces. These types of extensive colonization and dissemination were reported throughout all the leaf parts in palisade parenchyma, esclerenchyma, spongy parenchyma, adaxial epidermis, and vascular bundle indicating colonization of endophytes in múltiple structural sub-niches in the host plant.

Many microorganisms play a significant role in releasing phosphorus (P) from soil insoluble phosphates to crops. Here, we evaluated the ability of dark septate endophytes (DSE) to solubilize calcium, aluminum and iron phosphates. DSE were isolated from the roots of wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) and the forages Panicum coloratum and Chloris gayana , which are grown in slightly acidic and alkaline soils of the Argentine Pampas, respectively. Protocols to corroborate their endophytic nature were followed. Nine fungi were identified by morphological and molecular characteristics, and their sequences were deposited in GenBank. The isolates belonged to the same order and genera as DSE fungi recorded in other parts of the world. The temperature and pH requirements of the DSE strains were verified. To determine their ability to solubilize phosphate, we followed two in vitro methodologies: solid and liquid media. On solid medium, all isolates showed ability to solubilize calcium phosphate, three strains solubilized aluminum phosphate, and none of them solubilized iron phosphate. The DSE most efficient in solubilizing calcium phosphate were Ophiosphaerella sp. and Cochliobolus sp., followed by Setosphaeria rostrata . The strains Drechslera sp. (P6), Ophiosphaerella herpotricha and Drechslera sp. (12–15) were able to solubilize aluminum phosphate. In liquid medium, the isolates showed different ability to generate acidity and to solubilize phosphates. Drechslera sp. (12–15) was among the most efficient in solubilizing calcium phosphate, Curvularia sp. in solubilizing aluminum phosphate and Ophiosphaerella sp. in solubilizing iron phosphate. The results obtained combining both methodologies indicate that S. rostrata was not the best with each phosphate individually but showed the best global performance. DSE fungi are far less identified than other groups of fungi and bacteria as soil insoluble phosphate-solubilizing agents. However, they showed potential for application as biofertilizers in different soils to manage sustainable agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cessation of mowing in subalpine grasslands promotes the dominance of Festuca paniculata leading to the reduction in plant diversity. Moreover, it affects positively the abundance of Epichloë sp. inhabiting F. paniculata leaves and negatively the soil density of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We explored how the cessation of mowing influences root AMF communities in F. paniculata and the neighboring plants, and Epichloë sp alkaloids. Thirteen AMF operational taxonomical units were found. The neighboring plants affected positively the abundances of Aalpin and GLOM_7 whereas the interaction plant/management type influenced significantly Claroide_1 , GLOM_1 and GLOM_7 . The N-formylnorloline, produced by Epichloë sp. increased in unmown grassland. Hence, the cessation of mowing, coinciding with the high abundance of endophyte alkaloid, affected root-associated AMF with differential responses at the abundance level. The N-formylnorloline could be one compound underpinning the dynamic of plant diversity with a resulting structuration of AMF in subalpine grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In French subalpine grasslands, cessation of mowing promotes dominance of Festuca paniculata, which alters plant diversity and ecosystem functioning. One of the mechanisms underpinning such effects may be linked to simultaneous changes in the abundance of fungal symbionts such as endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In field conditions, mowing reduced the abundance of the endophyte Neotyphodium sp. in leaves of F. paniculata by a factor of 6, and increased mycorrhizal densities by a factor of 15 in the soil. In greenhouse experiments, the mycorrhizal colonization of Trifolium pratense and Allium porrum increased 3- fold and 3.8- fold respectively in mown vs unmown grassland soil. Significantly reduced growth of the two host plants was also observed on soil from the unmown grassland. Such opposite effects of mowing on the two functional groups of fungal symbionts could suggest interactions between these two groups, which in turn could contribute to structuring plant communities in subalpine grasslands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims: A study on the effectiveness of replanting in 'inter-row' to minimize replant disease in apple orchards was performed focusing on the plant-microorganism relationship. Methods: Simulation of a post transplant period with M9 rootstock plantlets was performed in soil samples taken from five third-generation orchards. Plant growth and root health, root colonizing fungi and bacteria of rhizospheric soil were evaluated at the end of the post-transplant simulation. Results: Plant growth did not differ across the orchards, but was highest ( P > 0.01) in the 'inter-row'. Root colonizing fungi composition differed from one orchard to the other, but not between row and inter-row. Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum were the most represented species followed by Cylindrocarpon spp, binucleate Rhizoctonia sp., and Fusarium spp. Cylindrocarpon spp and binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. were pathogenic and occurred everywhere. Rhizosphere bacteria differed across orchards, but their position within the orchards did not. As plant growth response to the row and inter-row varied through the orchards, findings suggest that microbial interaction and pathogen host specificity play a role in plant health. Conclusions: Replanting in inter-row can minimize replant disease but potential fungal pathogens are endemic in soil, therefore replanting should be associated with strategies increasing soil suppressiveness in established orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In order to provide a theoretical basis for disease control on Chuanxiong, the species of endophyte and epiphytic fungi on Chuanxiong were explored in this paper. Organizational separation method was used to identify the species of endophyte and epiphytic fungi on 30 Chuanxiong rhizome samples in Dujiangyan, Sichuan. Results showed that 10 kinds of fungi were isolated from the samples, including four kinds of endophyte, nine kinds of epiphytic fungi. Fusarium and Trichoderma were mainly endophyte while Trichoderma, Fusarium and Mucor were mainly endogenous epiphytic fungi, and Trichoderma and Fusarium were the main populations of epiphytic endophytic fungi and fungal species composition were much rich than that of endophyte, and Monilia was found in epiphytic fungi, which was never reported in relevant epiphytic fungi study on Chuangxiong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lolitrem-B is a neurotoxic substance that causes the ryegrass staggers syndrome in cattle, sheep, and horses consuming ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) infected with endophytic fungus Neotyphodium lolii (Latch, Christensen, and Samuels) Glenn, Bacon, and Hanlin. Due to the increasing use of ryegrass pasture in southern Chile, it is necessary to know the content of lolitrem-B to optimize grazing management and reduce the effect on animal health. The objective of this study was to implement a method to determine lolitrem-B in ryegrass. Ryegrass samples were used without the endophyte, freeze-dried, and kept in darkness at -18 °C to establish the method. Then, a pure lolitrem-B standard was added and the toxin was extracted with a mixture of chloroform-methanol (2:1), purified in manually prepared silica gel 60 columns. Five standard addition levels were studied (0.05, 0.10, 0.30, 0.60, and 1.00 mg kg-1) with five replicates per level. The recovery was 96.6 to 99.9%, on average and the coefficient of variation (CV) ranged between 0.9 and 5.9%. Quantification was done by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence detection. The quantification limit was 0.05 mg kg-1. This method of determining neurotoxin lolitrem-B in ryegrass samples was implemented for the first time in Chile. It is fast and inexpensive; it has good precision, accuracy and repeatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is the second leading cause of death all around the world. The natural compounds derived from the endophytic flora of fungi are possible solutions to cancer treatment because they are safe for health, cost-effective, biocompatible and have fewer toxicity issues. The active ingredients in endophytic fungi that are responsible for anti-cancer activities are alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, saponin, peptides, steroids, phenols, quinones, and flavonoids. This review highlights the anti-cancer activities of entophytic fungus against human papillary thyroid carcinoma (IHH4), human pancreatic (PANC-1), ovarian (OVCAR-3), hepatic (HepG2), lung (A-549), human lymphoma (U937), human skin carcinoma (A431), breast (MCF-7), and Kaposi's sarcoma. The emerging evidence suggested that bioactive compounds isolated from endophytic fungi showed their anti-cancer activities by revealing the disturbance of the microtubule network caused by increased levels of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins that triggers cell cycle arrest at the G2-M phase, by inhibiting the DNA replication via binding with topoisomerase II, by regulating the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and NF-kB, by evaluating the levels of p21, p27, and cyclins B/D1/E that led to cell death by apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. This review will assist readers in better comprehending bioactive chemicals and the beneficial interaction between the fungal endophytes and medicinal plants., Competing Interests: None., (AJCR Copyright © 2022.)