Exploring the Biotechnological Potential of Endophytic Fungi from Acorus calamus: Enzymatic Activity, Antimicrobial Properties, and Siderophore Production

Abstract The leaves and rhizome of Acorus calamus (Acoraceae) were investigated for the endophytic fungi associated with the plant. Two fungal endophytes were isolated and confirmed as Cladosporium sphaerospermumand Plectosphaerella sp. using molecular techniques. Both species were recorded as new isolates of A. calamus. The isolates were tested for extracellular enzyme production. The Plectosphaerella sp. demonstrated enzymatic activity in maximum instances, whereas C. sphaerospermum displayed positive results for three extracellular enzyme production (pectinase, cellulase, and tyrosinase) activities. The preliminary siderophore production assay was done, and Plectosphaerella sp. was found to have the potential for siderophore production. Both fungal isolates were screened for preliminary antibacterial activity by the agar-well diffusion method against plant and animal pathogens, in which C. sphaerospermumshowed the maximum zone of inhibition against the animal pathogenic Bacillus megaterium (30.67 ± 1.64) while Plectosphaerella sp. against Staphylococcus aureus(16.67 ± 1.20). When tested against plant pathogenic strains, C.sphaerospermum showed the maximum zone of inhibition against Xanthomonas phaseoli (31.50 ± 1.76) and Plectosphaerella sp. against Xanthomonas campestris (15.33 ± 0.88).