Isolation and identification of fungi associated with Nypa fruticans in Setiu Wetland

Abstract

Fungi are the most diverse organisms where marine fungi have been proven to produce bioactive compounds. This study was carried out to isolate and identify the fungi associated with Nypafruticans at Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu. Two techniques were used which were Direct Plating Technique and Damp Incubation Technique. Fragments of leaves, stems, roots and fruits were cultured on PDA and identification was done using the slide culture technique. The results showed that more fungi appeared using the Direct Plating technique where there are 15 different isolates compared to six species isolated from Damp Incubation Technique. The fungi identified include four Ascomycetes and one each for Hypomycetes, Protosteliomycetes, Coelomycetes, Zygomycetes and Deuteromycetes, with 12 isolates unidentified. Out of 21 total of isolated fungi, only nine of them were able to be identified. These fungal isolates can be used further in the investigation of possible bioactive compound(s) produced by these fungi.