Distribution, Diversity and Biochemical Analysis of Endophytic Fungi Associated with Chromolaena odorata

Chromolaena odorata is a medicinal plant that possesses several properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, etc., and has been used in traditional medicine in various parts of the world. Medicinal plants are associated with endophytic fungi that have potential biological activities as well as protect the plant from biotic and abiotic agents. In this study, endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves, stems, roots, and inflorescence of C. odorata and identified morphologically. Nineteen sporulating endophytic fungi belonging to 9 genera, 8 families and 4 classes, and three sterile forms were obtained. The isolation data recorded were used to calculate Isolation rate, Colonization frequency, Infection rate and Relative occurrence of different groups of fungi. The highest Isolation rate was found in the stem part (34.75%); the highest overall Colonization frequency (%) was shown by Chaetomium globosum (8.51%); the maximum Infection rate was found in root segments (77.86%); and the maximum isolate belongs to Sordariomycetes, showing 43.50%. Simpson’s dominance index, Simpson’s diversity index, Species richness, Shannon-Wiener index and Evenness (E) index were calculated to reveal diversity indices. The maximum diversity was recorded in the leaf part (0.99), and the maximum number of endophytic fungal species was observed in stem segments. The production of biochemicals was analyzed qualitatively, and it was observed that all the isolates produce flavonoids and phenols. This indicates that endophytic fungi are a storehouse of natural compounds and can be applied in agriculture, medicine, and pharmaceutical industries.