Fungal Endophyte Diversity in Sarracenia

Fungal endophytes were isolated from 4 species of the carnivorous pitcher plant genus Sarracenia: S. minor, S. oreophila, S. purpurea, and S. psittacina. Twelve taxa of fungi, 8 within the Ascomycota and 4 within the Basidiomycota, were identified based on PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS rDNA) with taxonomic identity assigned using the NCBI nucleotide megablast search tool. Endophytes are known to produce a large number of metabolites, some of which may contribute to the protection and survival of the host. We speculate that endophyte-infected Sarracenia may benefit from their fungal associates by their influence on nutrient availability from within pitchers and, possibly, by directly influencing the biota within pitchers

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN-US">Diversity and antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN-US">the seagrass <i>Enhalus acoroides</i> </span></span>

785-797Endophytic fungi were isolated from the seagrass, Enhalus acoroides, collected from Trang province, Thailand. Forty-seven endophytic isolates cultured were classified into 17 phylogenetically diverse genera based on their morphology and molecular analysis of the ITS regions of the rDNA. Most common species were Penicillium (6 isolates), Nigrospora (5), and Fusarium (4) and 2 with unknown taxonomic affinity. Crude extracts including culture media and cells of all isolates were tested for their antimicrobial activities using a colorimetric broth microdilution method against ten potential human pathogens. Extracts from 38 isolates (80.85%) showed antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 4 to 200 μg mL-1. Nigrospora sp. PSU-ES5 produced the most active extracts against Microsporum gypseum (MIC 4 to 8 μg mL-1). Endophytic fungi from seagrasses such as E. acoroides could therefore be a good source for obtaining antimicrobial natural products