Isolation of endophytic fungi from Cannabis sativa and study their antifungal potential

A systemic study of fungal endophytes associated with different plant parts of Cannabis sativa and their antifungal activity was investigated in the present study. A total of 281 plant segments, including 91 leaves, 93 stem and 97 petioles samples, were screened for the isolation of endophytic fungi. Totally, 212 (77.65%) segments were found colonised by different fungi. Highest colonisation frequency were observed in stem parts (84.94%), then leaves (82.41%) and lowest 59.79% in petiole. Total eight fungal genera belonging to 12 species were isolated. Aspergillus is recorded as the most frequently occurring genera with three species Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus nidulans followed by Penicillium with two species Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium citrinum, while Phoma, Rhizopus, Colletotrichum, Cladosporium and Curvularia with single species. The antifungal potential of A. niger and A. flavus – two most frequently isolated endophytic fungi – was evaluated against two common plant pathogen, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Curvularia lunata. Different plant and fungal extracts individually and in combinations showed variations in antifungal activity against both the pathogens. The primary results obtained on antifungal activity of endophytes show their possible role in plant defence mechanism but it is a preliminary approach and more extensive research is still required.