Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Fungal endophyte diversity and colonization patterns in the ethnomedicinal plant Canthium coromandelicum
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Research Articles | Published: 18 March, 2026
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Keywords: Fungal endophytes, Morphotypes, Species richness, Colonization frequency
Abstract
Medicinal plants have been used for centuries due to their wealth of bioactive compounds. In this study, we explored the fungal endophytes living within Canthium coromandelicum to characterize their taxonomic diversity and tissue-specific colonization patterns. Samples were collected from leaves, stems, thorns, and fruits, resulting in 819 fungal isolates. By combining morphological and molecular analyses, such as ITS sequencing, we discovered a diverse array of fungi, including Diaporthe sp., Colletotrichum sp., Muyocopron sp., Ascotricha sp., Eutypella sp., and Cophinforma sp. Additionally, we assessed colonization frequency and species diversity, observing that thorns hosted the greatest number of endophytes. These results indicate that C. coromandelicum harbors a rich and diverse community of fungal endophytes, presenting a promising opportunity for identifying new bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications.
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Author Information
Department of Studies in Biotechnology, University of Mysore, Mysuru, India