| dc.description.abstract | Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is extensively consumed and commercially
exploited due to its beneficial bioactive compounds. To sustain durian cultivation,
one approach involves exploring the potential of endophytic fungi. The advantages of
endophytic fungi can reduce dependence on raw material sources from their host
plants, and existing biodiversity can be maintained. The study aimed to isolate
endophytic fungi from the roots of durian tree saplings of five varieties—Montong,
Bawor, Ochee (Black Thorn), Kane, and Musang King—and determine their ability
to inhibit the growth of pathogenic microbes. The endophytic fungal isolates were
assayed for its antagonistic ability to inhibit human pathogenic bacteria, i.e.,
Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA), and a pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans. Bioactive metabolites
were extracted using ethyl acetate and followed by phytochemical analysis.
Antagonistic fungal isolates were identified based on ITS-rDNA region using ITS-1F
and ITS-4R primers. The twenty-seven isolates of endophytic fungal with different
morphological characteristics from five varieties of durian root were obtained. The
twenty-two isolates of endophytic fungal showed inhibitory activity against the test
bacteria, and 8 isolates inhibited C. albicans. The five most potential endofit fungi
isolates are JEM4, JEB5, JEO4, JEK3, and JMK1. Ethyl acetate extract of JEK3
with a concentration of 80% showed the highest antimicrobial index of 3.98 with a
inhibition zone diameter 29.9 mm close to the diameter of the antibiotic barrier area
of chloramphenicol (31.16 mm). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of
secondary metabolite compounds of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and
glycosides. Molecular identification of the potential endophytic fungal isolates
showed genetic similarity to Fusarium oxysporum (JEM4), Trichoderma asperellum
(JEB5), Scytalidium dimidiatum (JEO4), Codinaea acaciae (JEK3), and Codinaea
siamensis (JMK1). | en_US |
