Antimicrobial Activities and Molecular Signature of Endophytic Fungi of Wild Plant, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Endophytic fungi, which have been reported in numerous plant species, are essential components of the wild plants’ community and contribute significantly to natural ecosystems' diversity. The study aims to evaluate and characterize, at the molecular level, the diversity and antimicrobial activities of endophytic fungi from wild plants in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Fungal endophytes were isolated from leaves and stems of plants, including Juniperus excelsa, Ziziphus spina-christi, Aacacia gerradii, Rumex nervosus, Lavandula dentate, Hypoestes forskaolii, Ficus palmata, Eucalyptus smithii and Conyza bonariensis collected from Taif, Saudi Arabia. About 25 different species belonging to 16 genera were recovered. The ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the collected endophytic isolates were sequenced. The most prevalent fungi were identified as Hypocopra, Aspergillus, Coniothyrium, Chaetomium, Bipolaris, Dothideomycetes, Penicillium, Phoma, Mucor, Readeriella, Leptosphaerulina, Neodidymelliopsis, and Thielavia. Seven of the endophytic fungi isolates exhibited vigorous antimicrobial activity to some microbial pathogens tested. Fungal sp. has the highest inhibition against the human pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococeus faecium and Streptococcus agalactiae