Ambika Vasantakumar, G. M. Vidyasagar*
Medicinal Plants and Microbiology Research Laboratory, Department of P G Studies and Research in Botany, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi-585106, Karnataka, India.
*Address for Corresponding Author
G. M. Vidyasagar
Medicinal Plants and Microbiology Research Laboratory,Department of P G Studies and Research in Botany, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi-585106, Karnataka, India.
Abstract
Objective: Endophytes act as major reservoir of biologically active compounds for health care applications and an increasing number of novel bioactive compounds are being extracted from fungal endophytes.so the present study is isolation and identification of endophytic fungi from Gymnema sylvestre. Material and methods: Fresh leaves and stem were washed thoroughly in running water and with distilled water to remove dust and debris. The material was surface sterilized by mercury chloride. The leaf segments were placed in petri dishes (2–3 segments/petri dish) containing Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. The petri dishes were sealed using parafilm and incubated at 26±2 °C in the light chamber for 3 weeks. The fungi grown were transferred to PDA plate and identified based on their morphology and other features. Results: A total of 60 endophytic isolates were isolated from Gymnema sylvestre and among them 10 endophytes belonging to seven genera were identified. The other fungal isolates need further efforts to identify. Conclusion: A total of 10 endophytic fungi belongs to seven genera were isolated and identified from Gymnema sylvestre and they may be very much useful in the extraction of potent active compounds that the plant is known far. The study may be useful in protecting the highly useful medicinal plant by giving the alternate source for drug.
Keywords: Gymnema sylvestre , endophytes
