Bioprospecting endophytic fungi associated with dillenia Indica linn For bioactive molecules

Abstract

The present study investigated the endophytic fungi associated with Dillenia indica L. and their screening for different functional attributes. A total of 25 different fungal taxa belonging to 20 genera and 17 families were isolated from different parts of Dillenia indica. The isolated fungi showed seasonal, and tissue specificity and are good producers of different extracellular enzymes such as amylase, lipase, protease, asparaginase, cellulase, and ligninolytic enzymes. The physiological studies of Colletotrichum gigasporum, Schizophyllumm commune, and Diaporthe phaseolorum were studied, and their ligninolytic enzyme production was optimized in relation to different carbon and nitrogen sources. The isolated strains also have good antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Preliminary phytochemical analysis and GC-MS analysis led to the identification of various compounds, which are classified into alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, and cardiac glycosides. The fungal endophytes isolated from the selected plant displayed several plant growth-promoting properties. Inoculating Triticum aestivum L. seedlings with selected strains (Nigrospora sphaerica and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) enhanced their growth, biomass production, and phytochemicals compared to uninoculated plants. newline