ABSTRACT:
Medicinal plants are known to harbor novel microorganisms and they have been reported to produce different pharmaceutically important metabolites with novel properties. In present investigation, forty five endophytic fungi were isolated from surface sterilized plant parts (root, stem, leaf and petiole) of six medicinal herbs viz, Alor vera (L) Burm. f. Abrus precatorius L. Asparagus racemosus Willd. Catharanthus roseus (L) G. Don., Hemidesmes indicus (L)R. Br. & Plumbago zrylanica L and thirtyfive endophytic fungi were isolated from three medicinal shrubs viz., Abutilon indicum (L) Sweet, Adhatoda vasica Nees and Ocimum sanctum L Total eleven genera of fungi including Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Bipolaris, Colletotrichum. Curvularia, Paecilomyces Penicillium, Pestalotiopsis, Fusarium and seven sterile forms were identified on the basis of morphological characterization. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was dominant endophytic fungal species in three herbs ie. Asparagus racemosus, Catharanthus roseus, Plumbago zeylanica. Maximum similarity of endophytic assemblages was observed between Plambago zrylanica and Asparagus racemosus. Maximum species richness and diversity of endophytic fungi was recorded in Asparagus racemosus following Margalef's index (R) and Menhinick index (R:) for species richness and Simpson's index (D) and Shannon-Weiner index (H") of diversity. Maximum species evenness was recorded in Hemidesmus indicus and it was minimum in Catharanthus roseus.