Isolation and identification of fungi associated with Nypa fruticans in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu

Abstract

Mangrove plants have a great potential in the production of bioactive compounds that can be used for medicinal purposes. However, it is not certain whether the bioactive compounds are produced by mangrove plant itself or by associated microbes. In order to determine this, fungi associated with Nypa fruticans were isolated. The sampling of fragments of leaves, fronds and barks of N fruticans was conducted in Zone 1, Mangrove Forests of UMT, Terengganu. In this study, two techniques were used: Direct Plating Technique and Damp Incubation Technique. In both techniques the fragments were incubated on Sea Water Agar (SWA) and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). More fungi were detected on PDA, indicating that PDA stimulates the growth of fungi. The fungi isolated were subcultured in slide culture technique to identify the fungi. Identification of fungi was based on their morphology and by observation under microscope. A total of 40 individual species of fungi were isolated from both techniques which are 29 from Direct Plating Technique and 11 from Damp Incubation Technique. The fungi isolated include 10 Ascomycetes, 18 Deuteromycetes, one Basidiomycete and 11 unidentified isolates. Out of 29 identified fungi, 28 species belong to terrestrial fungi and one belongs to marine fungi. These fungal isolates can be used further in the investigation of possible bioactive compound(s) produced by these fungi.