Endophytic Fungi of Myrtle (Myrtus communis) and their Extracellular Enzyme Activity

Abstract

  The study was aimed to isolate and identify endophytic fungi from myrtle (Mrtus communis) leaves and study their extracellular enzymes activity. Results revealed isolation of 99 species or ioslated of endophytic fungi obtained from 500 leaves fragment, which represented colonization frequency (CF) of 20.4%. Those fungi were related to 23 species or isolates, Aspergilli were dominated over all species (11 species) with CF 14%. Moreover A. niger and A. flavus showed the higtest CF values over all. Other isolated fungi were related to the genera: Penicillium spp., Cladosporium sp., Cunninghamella sp., Derchslera sp., Alternaria sp. Paecilomyces sp. and sterile fungi (mycelia sterilia). Extracelluar enzymes activity showed varation in type and activity of secreting these enzymes in solid media. The percentage of 91.3% of these fungi were able to secrete anylase, while 69.5% produced lipase and 86.9% produced pectinase, as well as 82.6%, 73.9% and 13% were able to secrete cellulase, protease and laccase respectively. Some isolated showed a high affinity to secret some of tested enzymes which give indication of the possibility of using these enzymes in many applications after isolation and characterization .