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Identification, characterization, antimicrobial activity and biocontrol potential of four endophytic fungi isolated from Amazonian plants

Summary

Scientists isolated four types of fungi living inside the leaves of medicinal plants from the Amazon region of Bolivia. These fungi produce natural compounds that kill harmful bacteria and fungi that damage potato crops. The findings show promise for developing natural alternatives to synthetic pesticides and antibiotics for agricultural and medical applications.

Background

Endophytic fungi reside within plant tissues without causing disease and produce bioactive metabolites with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. They enhance plant defense mechanisms and have attracted significant attention in biotechnology and microbiology for their potential applications.

Objective

To isolate and identify endophytic fungi from Amazonian medicinal plants and evaluate their antimicrobial activity against bacterial pathogens and their biocontrol potential against phytopathogenic fungi.

Results

Molecular and morphological identification revealed two Aspergillus strains, one Fusarium strain, and one Alternaria strain. Extracts showed strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria with MIC values ranging from 15.6 to 500 µg/mL. Strains SMB-18, SMB-20, and SMB-22 effectively inhibited phytopathogenic fungi including Helminthosporium sp. (58-80% inhibition), Fusarium oxysporum (37-50%), and Fusarium solani (51-57%).

Conclusion

Amazonian endophytic fungi are promising sources of bioactive metabolites with significant antimicrobial and biocontrol potential. These findings highlight the importance of biodiversity in bioprospecting and suggest applications in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology, particularly for managing potato crop diseases.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41214208, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-26865-6
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