Bioprospecting of the endophytes from Lagenandra toxicaria Dalzell.

Abstract

Lagenandra toxicaria is a medicinal aquatic plant that harbors a diverse array of endophytes with promising applications. This study delved into the endophytic community, their interactions, and their potential for producing phytochemicals, exhibiting antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, producing enzymes, and promoting plant growth. The research successfully identified the diverse range of endophytes present in each plant part, location, and season, revealing that their diversity varies depending on the season and plant part. Multivariate ANOVA analysis showed that seasonal changes and plant parts influence diversity of endophytes. Notably, a fungal isolate exhibited potent antibiotic activity due to a compound with antimicrobial properties. The potent isolates were found to contain significant amounts of flavonoid, phenol, terpenoid, coumarin, quinone, and glycoside. Fungal isolates from leaves demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, while bacterial endophytes were identified as efficient producers of enzymes, particularly protease. Both fungal and bacterial endophytes exhibited plant growth-promoting properties, including producing indole-3-acetic acid, solubilizing phosphate, and exhibiting ACC deaminase activity. Experimental studies confirmed the quality and stability of enzymes and the effect of IAA on seedling development. HPLC analysis identified the production of IAA and DEP by corresponding isolates under pre-optimized and optimized conditions. This study highlights the vast potential of Lagenandra toxicaria endophytes for sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental remediation. Further optimization of endophyte-plant interactions and bioactive compound production can unlock new opportunities for eco-friendly solutions. The research contributes to the understanding of endophyte-plant interactions. It emphasizes the importance of exploring Lagenandra toxicaria endophytes for future applications, demonstrating their potential for sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental sustainability.