Isolation and antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi from Madhuca longifolia Bark
R Kuralarasi and K Lingakumar
The present inspection on isolation and antibacterial activity analysis of endophytic fungi from Madhuca longifolia bark and to evaluate its antimicrobial activities. Endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaf segments from Madhuca longifolia bark using PDA medium and fruiting structures were introduced in four different culture media and identified by macroscopic and microscopic methods. The fungi were grown in PD broth for 21 days and extracted with ethyl acetate. The crude extract was collected and used for antimicrobial analysis. Twenty endophytic fungi were isolated from Madhuca longifolia bark and were identified by macroscopic and microscopic methods as members of Colletotrichum sp., Alternaria sps, Pestalotiopsis sps Diaporthea sp., Phomopsis sp., Mycosperellacea sp., Fusarium sp., Pleosporales sp.and Pseudocercospora sp. Extracts prepared from the fungal isolates were screened for the antimicrobial properties against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Vibrio cholera. Very interestingly, three endophytic fungal isolates Colletotrichum sps, Alternaria sps, Pestalotiopsis spswere found to have highest activity against the pathogens screened.The study proves the promising natural product biosynthetic potential of fungi associated with Madhuca longifolia bark.