A new Endophytic Fungus Fusarium oxysporum with Antagonism Activity Against Some Pathogenic Fungi

Background: Pathogenic fungi have emerged as a significant threat to human life. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore new sources of antifungal compounds from endophytic fungi and test the antagonistic activity against some of opportunistic pathogenic fungi. Morphological and molecular analyses using the 18S-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the translational elongation factor 1 (TEF1) gene were applied for identification of the isolated endophytic fungi recovered from barley seeds (Hordeum vulgare L.). Methodology: The antagonistic ability of isolated fungus was tested against the pathogenic fungi Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium solani using the dual culture technique. GC-MS technique was used to analyze metabolic extraction compounds. Results: Morphological and molecular analyses revealed that the isolated fungus was identified as Fusarium oxysporum, which was designated as F20B in this study. Based on the antagonistic activity test, F20B exhibited a significantly high inhibitory effect against M. phaseolina and F. solani growth using the dual culture technique (94% and 70%; PIRG, Percentage Inhibition of Radial Growth). GC-MS analysis showed present 2,4-dichloro-5-fluoroacetophenone (3.16%), Phenol, 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl- (1.77%), Hexadecane (0.64%), 1-Tetradecene (0.47%), cetene (0.47%), cycloheptasiloxane, tetradecamethyl- (0.4%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (0.36%), and dl-Mevalonic acid lactone (0.33%) were the major components of secondary metabolites. Conclusion: F. oxysporum F20B was isolated as an endophytic fungus from barley seeds with a promising potential pharmaceutical application against opportunistic fungal pathogens due to its antagonistic activity.