Biodiversity of Phylloplane and Endophytic Fungi from Different Aged Leaves of Medicinal Mangrove Plant Species, Avicennia marina

Aim: Variety of phylloplane and endophytic fungi is used to imitate as one of the rich source of novel compounds of biological accomplishments and have a high level of organizational diversity on the leaf surfaces. Bioactive composites produced by these phylloplane and endophytes have shown inspiring potentiality towards therapeutic medicine, for which it is necessary to appreciate and employ this important microbial resource and make it more valuable for the wellbeing of mankind. During the present study, isolation and enumeration of phylloplane (ectophytic) and endophytic fungal species was carried out from one medicinal plant, Avicennia marina collected from marine mangrove environments of Puducherry coast. Methods: During the study, two methodologies viz., moist chamber and direct agar plate methods were used for the isolation and enumeration of phylloplane and endophytic fungi. Results & Discussion: Altogether, 25 fungal species of 13 genera were isolated from the mangrove plant, Avicennia marina. Among the isolated fungi, Aspergillus niger, Cochilobolus victoria, Colletotrichum sp., Curvularia lunata, Drechslera sp., Glomerella sp. Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. oxalicum, Phoma sp., Sordaria sp. White sterile mycelia were found common in both phylloplane and endophytes. Moist chamber method was found suitable to record more number of fungi than agar plate method. The host relative preference and tissue specification evidence was found between the phylloplane and endophytes based on the fungal community distribution and composition.