Isolation and identification of endophytic fungi in the medicinal plant Mikania laevigata (Asteraceae)

The Mikania laevigata (Asteraceae) is a Brazilian medicinal plant used to treat respiratory tract diseases.It is produced on a large scale for phytotherapic formulation. No studies on the endophytes of Mikania laevigata have been described in the literature. The endophytic fungi isolated from the leaves of M. laevigata cultivated in a floral garden located in the south region of the Bahia state, Brazil, were investigated. After surface disinfection, the performing the isolation procedure, a total of forty endophytic fungi were obtained and grouped into different morphospecies. The fungi were characterized by molecular sequencing the ITS rDNA regions, and they were identified by comparing the results published Gen Bank sequences.The phylogenetic analyses revealed four major clades of fungi from the sequenced ITS-rDNA regions: Nodulisporium sp. (3 isolates), Hypoxylon sp.(3 isolates), Daldinia sp. (1isolate) and Xylaria luteo stromata (aunique isolate).The Xylariaceae Genus was the dominant group of fungi associated with Mikania laevigata.

Key words:  Mikania laevigata, Asteraceae, Xylariaceae, Endophytic fungi.