Isolation and Characterization of Fungal Endophytes from Medicinal Plant Deverra tortuosa

Abstract

The study aims to isolate and identify endophytic fungus from the medicinal herb Deverra tortuosa obtained from the Egyptian desert.. Endophytic fungi were isolated from three parts of the plant - root, stem, and flower. Five endophytic fungal species were purified and identified based on morphological characteristics - Alternaria alternata, Trichoderma viride, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Rhizobus solani. Some fungi develop colorful colonies, while others are irregularly shaped or circular. Specialized phrases define colony color, form, height, and boundary. The isolated fungal strains have been reported in previous studies to have beneficial bioactivities like plant growth promotion, antimicrobial properties, etc. Endophytic fungi have a significant ecological impact due to their interactions with host plants.. They also produce bioactive secondary metabolites that can have pharmaceutical and agricultural applications.The study concludes that the medicinal plant Deverra tortuosa provides a niche for diverse endophytic fungi adapted to arid conditions. Further studies are recommended to evaluate the bioactivities and applications of the isolated fungal strains.