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Research articles

ScienceAsia 51 (2023): 1-11 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2023.027


Distribution and diversity of cultured fungi from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hassk. leaves in southern Thailand and their antimicrobial activities


Alisara Maa, Nurida Chealeea, Sara Bumrungsria, Supayang Piyawan Voravuthikunchaib,c, Lakkhana Kanhayuwa Wingfielda,*

 
ABSTRACT:     Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hassk. is a medicinal plant known for its therapeutic potential on bacterial infections. We first investigated the distribution, diversity, and antimicrobial activities of cultured endophytic fungi isolated from R. tomentosa across the southern region of Thailand (13 provinces). The endophytes were isolated and characterized based on their morphological and molecular characteristics. A total of 29 representative morphotypes were phylogenetically classified into 12 genera. The most frequently isolated genera were Neopestalotiopsis (RF, 29.46%), Endomelanconiopsis (RF, 17.24%), Colletotrichum (RF, 13.72%), and Phyllosticta (RF, 12.43%). The Margalef andMenhinickspeciesrichnessindiceswere3.74and0.32, respectively; andtheShannonandSimpsonspeciesdiversity indices were 1.98 and 0.83, respectively. These values indicated that R. tomentosa leaves harbored a low diversity of fungal endophytes. The study revealed native endophytic fungal communities that were common across the southern region; but in some provinces, variations in fungal communities were observed. The variations were possibly influenced by different climatic, geographical, and geological characteristics. Colletotrichum and Neopestalotiopsis were the genera most commonly found in all provinces, while Pseudopestalotiopsis and Gnomoniopsis were area specific. Four out of 13 fungal morphotypes exhibited inhibitory activities against at least one bacterial pathogen. Chaetomium cupreum strain KBSK-V1-T8 exhibited antimicrobial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Our results suggested that fungal endophytes from R. tomentosa could be exploited as a potential source of bioactive agents.

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a Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110 Thailand
b Center of Antimicrobial Biomaterial Innovation-Southeast Asia, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110 Thailand
c Natural Product Research Center of Excellence, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110 Thailand

* Corresponding author, E-mail: Lakkhana.k@psu.ac.th

Received 1 Feb 2024, Accepted 3 Nov 2024