THE ENDOPHYTIC FUNGUS EPICOCCUM NIGRUM: ISOLATION, MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND STUDY ITS ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY AGAINST PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGUS FUSARIUM SOLANI

Fusarium solani is a soil-borne fungus that causes fusarium dry rot disease in Upper Egypt. In this study, endophytic fungi from the Helwan University campus were collected, separated, and classified according to their morphological traits. Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, Epicocum nigrum was isolated and identified from E. milii leaves; other endophytic fungi were recovered and recognised morphologically from E. hirta leaves. The endophytic isolates were examined for their antifungal activity against F. solani on PDA plates using the dual culture technique, which exhibited a variable growth inhibition percentage. E. nigrum showed a highly inhibited percentage (94%) after 5 days. As well, E. nigrum metabolites were extracted by different solvents (e.g., ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and chloroform: methanol, 2:1), and the crude extracts were active against F. solani compared to the control. The antifusarial activity was mostly reported in the ethyl acetate extract. Both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that higher concentrations of ethyl acetate extract caused a change in hyphal aggregation and spore formation in F. solani. Identification of antifungal components in ethyl acetate extract using GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4-Hexadeutero Octadecanal, 2, 2-Dideutero Octadecanal, and Isochiapin B as major components that could have antifungal and antimicrobial substances. These results suggest using E. nigrum extracts for controlling phytopathogenic F. solani.