Isolation and identification of fungi associated with Acrotichum aureum in Setiu Wetland.

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.