Bioprospecting of endophytic fungi isolated from Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) with the potential to produce hydrolytic enzymes and control the phytopathogen Macrophomina phaseolina

Endophytic microorganisms are mostly fungi or bacteria that live inside plants without causing them harm. They establish an intimate mutualistic association, making plants more resistant to stressful environments while receiving nutrients and protection. Studies indicate a significant capacity of these organisms to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes such as amylases, lipases, and cellulases from secondary metabolites that inhibit the development of pathogens. This work aimed to bioprospect endophytic fungi isolated from the plant Azadirachta indica with the potential to produce hydrolytic enzymes and control the microorganism Macrophomina phaseolina. These fungi had been previously isolated from A. indica, stored in the mycotheque of the Agricultural Entomology Laboratory B09 of the Don Bosco Catholic University, and molecularly identified. For enzyme production, the isolates were inoculated in specific media for each enzyme: lipase, esterase, pectinase, amylase, and protease. Antagonism tests were conducted in paired cultures, evaluating antagonism indices. It was possible to identify the genera Colletotrichum, Diaporthe, Phyllosticta, Alternaria, Trichoderma, Phomopsis, and Preussia, besides one identified only at the class level Sordariomycetes. In terms of enzyme production, the isolates Preussia isomera (AI17B) and Alternaria sp. (AI30B) stood out for their high protease production and the diversity of enzymes produced, respectively. In the presence of M. phaseolina, only Alternaria sp. (AI30B) and Phyllosticta capitalensis (AI25B) demonstrated antagonistic activity. Based on the results obtained, the A. indica plant can serve as a host for endophytic fungi with biotechnological and biocontrol potential.