Endophytic fungi of spurred mangrove, Ceriops tagal and its bioactivity potential: Predominance of Aspergillus species and its ecological significance

Fungal endophytes were isolated from the leaves of spurred mangrove, Ceriops tagal and the isolation frequency was found to be 11.66 %. The endophytes were identified by both morphological and molecular methods. A total of 106 endophytic fungi were isolated with the majority (96 %) belonging to the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota constituted only 4 % of the total isolates. Within Ascomycota, three classes (Sordariomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, and Saccharomycetes) and 4 orders were observed. In Basidiomycota only agaricomycetes was obtained. Aspergillus (58 %) was the dominant genus, followed by Penicillium (20 %) , Colletotrichum (9 %), and Schizophyllum (6 %). Notably, Aspergillus sydowii (35 %) was the predominant endophytic fungus in C. tagal . The colonization frequency was highest for Aspergillus sydowii (4.1 %) followed by Penicillium citrinum (3 %) and Aspergillus flavus (2.3 %). In total, 11 endophytic fungal species were identified from C. tagal . The isolates exhibited noteworthy hydrolytic enzyme production and antimicrobial properties, suggesting their suitability for potential applications as bioremediators and antimicrobials in aquaculture and medicine. • Isolation frequency of endophytic fungi from the mangrove Ceriops tagal was 11.66 %. • Majority of the endophytes belonged to the Ascomycota (96 %) and Basidiomycota only 4 %. • Aspergillus was the dominant genus (58 %) followed by Penicillium (20 %). • Colonization frequency was highest for Aspergillus sydowii (4.1 %). • Bioactive potential suggests their suitability for commercial applications.