Biodiversity of Endophytic Fungi in Withania Somnifera Leaves of Panchmarhi Biosphere Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal possess medicinal properties and can harbour endophytic mycoflora. Many of the pharmaceutical compounds produced by medicinal plants are reportedly produced by their endophytic fungi. Hence, it is important to study medicinal plants for their endophytic mycoflora for biodiversity and to determine their medicinal properties. An attempt has been made to study the biodiversity of endophytic fungi to understand their colonization. A total of 200 segments from plant leaves samples were screened and 49 endophytic fungi isolates belonging to 7 genera with 24.5% colonization frequency was observed. Only Hyphomycetes was recovered and Alternaria alternata was present with highest number of isolates followed by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger