Abstract:
Fungi associated with mangroves in Malaysia are under investigation and may contain
bioactive compounds. This study was carried out to isolate and identify fungi associated
with Acrostichum aureum, a mangrove fern in Setiu Wetlands. Fungi were isolated from
leaves, stems, and roots of Acrostichum aureum using direct plating method and damp
incubation method. For the results, 27 fungi have been identified including eight
Ascomycetes, six Zygomycetes and four Deuteromycetes. Five species of fungi isolated
were marine, thirteen were terrestrial while nine fungi were unknown species with no
Basidiomycetes isolated. Among the species identified are Pestalotiopsis sp.,
Haloguignardia tumefaciens, Turgidosculum complicatulum, Fusarium sp., Penicillium
sp., Torula herbarum, Aspergillus sp., Rhizophus sp., Acremonium sp., Cladosporium
algarum and Dictyosporium pelagicum. Rhizophus sp. and Pestalotiopsis sp. are the most
common fungi isolated in this study. Several possible reasons for this are given and the
differences in fungal numbers are discussed. These fungal isolates can be used further in
the investigation of potential bioactive compounds produced by fungi.