Characterization of cultivable endophytic fungi from the medicinal plant Senna reticulata (Willd.) H. S. Irwin & Barneby

Abstract

The objective of this work was to characterize the endophytic fungi community of the medicinal plant S. reticulata. Vegetable tissue samples from S. reticulata plants, stems and leaves, were collected, washed and disinfected by immersion in 70% etanol, 2% sodium hypochlorite, 70% alcohol, and washing in sterile distilled water. The samples were fragmented and inoculated in PDA and Sabouraud culture media, with and without plant extract. After inoculation, the plates were incubated at 18 ºC or 28 ºC for 30 days. The isolated fungi were characterized in terms of their macromorphology and micromorphology. A total of 309 S. reticulata endophytic fungi, 178 stem fungi and 131 leaf fungi, were isolated. A greater number of isolates was obtained in plant I, totaling 194. Sabouraud medium with plant extract at 18 ^oC, were the best conditions for isolation of endophytic fungi of S. reticulata. 27 morphospecies were identified, distributed in ten genera, Phomopsis (32.4%), Penicillium (13%), Aspergillus (5.8%), Acremonium (2.6%), Colletotrichum (1.6%), Curvularia (1.6%), Alternaria (0.3%), Trichoderma (0.3%), Cladosporium (0.3%) and Xylaria (0.3%). Senna reticulata has a diverse community of endophytic fungi, with Phomopsis as dominant. This is the first report of endophytic fungi from the medicinal plant Senna reticulata.

Keywords: Pasture killer; Medicinal plants; Phomopsis.