Objective: To study the population composition and antimicrobial activities of endophytes in medicinal plant Toddalia asiatica.
Methods: Endophytes were isolated from T. asiatica by using an exterior sterilization method, in combination with adding antimicrobial agents. Endophytes were classified and identified by morphological and molecular characters. Antimicrobial activities of endophytes were measured by using paper disc diffusion method.
Results: Three strains of endophytic bacteria, one strain of endophytic actinomyces and 82 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from T. asiatica. Fusarium, Pestalotiopsis, and Aspergillus were the dominant populations in T. asiatica. Antimicrobial activities of these endophytes were measured against 30 pathogenic microbes, and 18 strains possess substantial inhibitory activities, of which 16 strains were endophytic fungi belonging to 11 genera.
Conclusion: Endophytic strains with antimicrobial activities were obtained to explore the application of endophytic resources from T. asiatica.