ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ISOLATED FROM CYNODON DACTYLON AND MORINGA OLIEFERA
Fungal endophytes were isolated from selected Cynodon dactylon and Moringa oliefera species, on MRBA media. The findings show that the isolated endophytic species were identified as Curvularia sp, Penicillium oxalicum, Basidiomycete sp, Fusarium graminareum, Aspergillus sp1, Aspergillus sp2, Helminthosporium (Drescheleria haolodes), Alternaria brasicola. Further these fungi (mycelium and growth broth) were used to extract secondary metabolites. The extracts were used to test their antimicrobial potency against medical pathogens such as Escherichia coli, β-Strepto pneumococcus, Staphylococcus albus, Kleibsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They were further tested with plant pathogens such as Erwinia caratovora, Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas punicara. Significant findings emerged as the antimicrobial potency was estimated by measuring the zone of inhibition of each of these extracts with the chosen pathogens on the petriplate. The outcome of the exercise undertaken proved successful for furthering the scope and standardizing of the endophytic secondary metabolites as an alternative to the conventional use of antibiotics.