Enzymatic Activity Screening and Identification of Freshwater Hyphomycetes From China

Freshwater hyphomycetes are widely distributed and exhibit diverse enzymatic capabilities. A total of 49 isolates of freshwater hyphomycetes, collected from nine sampling sites across Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces in China, were screened for five extracellular enzymes (amylase, cellulase, chitinase, lipase, and protease) using semi‐quantitative plate assays on indicator media. Four isolates exhibiting strong enzymatic activities were selected for more rigorous enzymatic characterization and species identification. Morphological characterization and multi‐loci phylogenetic analyses identified the isolates as Periconia endophytica (GMBC5308), representing the first report of this fungus on Phragmites australis , Dendryphion europaeum (GMBC5304), P. cookei (GMBC5306), and P. pseudobyssoides (GMBC5307). These results enhance our understanding of enzymatic activity in freshwater hyphomycetes and provide a basis for further exploration of their ecological and biotechnological applications.