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Endophytic Fungal Diversity from Young, Mature and Senescent Leaves of Ocimum basilicum L. with Special Reference to Taxol Production


Affiliations
1 Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai: 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India
 

Endophytic fungi inhabiting foliage of medicinally important plants are diverse and abundant, yet little is known of their temporal and spatial variation. Seasonal variation in endophyte infections on young, mature and senescent leaves of a medicinal plant Ocimum basilicum collected from different sites were studied. Interestingly, one of the isolates, Phyllosticta sp.6, was found to produce taxol in artificial culture media. This study provides the first report on diversity of endophytic fungi of medicinal plants from Chennai city, Southern India. The endophytic fungus is expected to be a potential source of natural bioactive agent.

Keywords

Ocimum basilicum, Fungal Endophytes, Diversity, Taxol, Anticancer Drug
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  • Endophytic Fungal Diversity from Young, Mature and Senescent Leaves of Ocimum basilicum L. with Special Reference to Taxol Production

Abstract Views: 671  |  PDF Views: 143

Authors

V. Gangadevi
Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai: 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India
J. Muthumary
Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai: 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract


Endophytic fungi inhabiting foliage of medicinally important plants are diverse and abundant, yet little is known of their temporal and spatial variation. Seasonal variation in endophyte infections on young, mature and senescent leaves of a medicinal plant Ocimum basilicum collected from different sites were studied. Interestingly, one of the isolates, Phyllosticta sp.6, was found to produce taxol in artificial culture media. This study provides the first report on diversity of endophytic fungi of medicinal plants from Chennai city, Southern India. The endophytic fungus is expected to be a potential source of natural bioactive agent.

Keywords


Ocimum basilicum, Fungal Endophytes, Diversity, Taxol, Anticancer Drug

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst%2F2007%2Fv1i1%2F29181