Enzymatic activity of endophytic fungi of the Amazonian medicinal plants Mulateiro (Calycophyllum spruceanum) and Sucuuba (Himatanthus sucuuba)

Abstract

Endophytic microorganisms reside in plant tissues without typically causing harm during part of their life cycle and are primarily known for their beneficial role for the host plant. Among their many applications, endophytic fungi are a source of many interesting industrial enzymes, such as lipases, amylases, proteases and cellulases. Thus, this work aimed to analyze the enzymatic activity of endophytic fungi associated with the Amazonian medicinal plants mulateiro (Calycophyllum spruceanum) and sucuuba (Himatanthus sucuuba). Morphospecies of endophytic fungi were reactivated in Potato-Dextrose-Agar medium and incubated at 28 ºC. Reactivated fungi were identified by macro and micromorphological analysis and evaluated for in vitro enzymatic activity. The evaluated endophytic fungi of C. spruceanum produce protease (52%), cellulase (33%), lipase (33%) and amylase (24%). The evaluated endophytic fungi of H. sucuuba also showed a high potential in the production of extracellular enzymes such as cellulase (69%), protease (62%), lipase (12%) and amylase (6%). The fungal genera Phomopsis and Fusarium present a greater quantity of strains with positive activity. The endophytic fungi of C. spruceanum and H. sucuuba are promising producers of enzymes of industrial interest.