Phylogenetic Characterisation of Antimycotoxigenic Fungal and  Bacterial Endophytes from Maize Roots

Authors

  • Olukayode Olugbenga Orole
    Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
  • Henry David Dimut
    Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
  • Femi Gbadeyan
    Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Keywords:

Array, Array, Array, Array

Abstract

Endophytes are interesting microorganisms with ability to produce important health and industrial relevant metabolites. This study characterised the phylogenic relationship of bacterial and fungal endophytes, and determined the antimicrobial potential of the endophytes against mycotoxigenic fungi of stored maize. Maize roots were collected from which endophytes were isolated. The isolates’ DNA was amplified and sequencing carried out to identify them. The phylogenetic relationship of the isolates was constructed from the obtained sequences. The antifungal activity of the isolates was determined against mycotoxigenic fungi obtained from maize seeds. Fourteen isolates (six bacteria and eight fungal strains) were identified as endophytes. Trichoderma harzianum had activity against Penicillium verrucosum, Aspergillus carbonarius, A. parasiticus, A. ochraceus, A. flavus and A. niger with inhibition ranging from 78.6% to 90.6%, while Burkholderia cepacia had percentage inhibition of 60.9% and 63.2% against A. ochraceus and A. niger, respectively as the most active antifungal bacterial endophyte. The phylogenetic revealed that Burkholderia cepecia and Novosphingobium sp. are not closely related to the other bacterial isolates.

Dimensions

Jha, P., Kaur, T., Chhabra, I., Panja, A., Paul, S., Kumar, V., and Malik, T. (2023). Endophytic fungi: Hidden treasure chest of antimicrobial metabolites—Interrelationship of endophytes and metabolites. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1227830. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1227830

Li, Z., Wen, W., Qin, M., He, Y., Xu, D., and Li, L. (2022). Biosynthetic mechanisms of secondary metabolites promoted by the interaction between endophytes and plant hosts. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 928967. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.928967

Tsipinana, S., Husseiny, S., Alayande, K. A., Raslan, M., Amoo, S., and Adeleke, R. (2023). Contribution of endophytes towards improving plant bioactive metabolites: A rescue option against red-taping of medicinal plants. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1248319. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1248319

Chanama, M., Prombutara, P., and Chanama, S. (2023). Comparative genome features and secondary metabolite biosynthetic potential of Kutzneria chonburiensis and other species of the genus Kutzneria. Scientific Reports, 13, 8794. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36039-x

Ogbe, A. A., Finnie, J. F., and Van Staden, J. (2022). The role of endophytes in secondary metabolites accumulation in medicinal plants under abiotic stress. South African Journal of Botany, 134, 126–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2020.06.023

Orole, O. O., Adejumo, T. O., Link, T., and Voegele, R. T. (2023). Molecular identification of endophytes from maize roots and their biocontrol potential against toxigenic fungi of Nigerian maize. Science Progress, 106(3) . https://doi.org/10.1177/00368504231186514

Tamura, K., Stecher, G., & Kumar, S. (2021). MEGA 11: Molecular evolutionary genetics analysis version 11. Molecular Biology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msab120

Toghueo, R. M. K., Eke, P., Zabalgogeazcoa, Í., de Aldana, B. R. V., Nana, L. W., and Boyom, F. F. (2016). Biocontrol and growth-enhancement potential of two endophytic Trichoderma spp. from Terminalia catappa against the causative agent of common bean root rot (Fusarium solani). Biological Control, 96, 8–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2016.01.008

Abiala, M. A., Odebode, A. C., Hsu, S. F., and Blackwood, C. B. (2015). Phytobeneficial properties of bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of maize in southwestern Nigerian soils. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 81, 4736–4743. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00570-15

Li, Y., Kong, D., Fu, Y., Sussman, M. R., and Wu, H. (2020). Effects of developmental and environmental factors on secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 148, 80–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.01.006

Kurokawa, M., Nakano, M., Kitahata, N., Kuchitsu, K., and Furuya, T. (2021). An efficient direct screening system for microorganisms that activate plant immune responses based on plant–microbe interactions using cultured plant cells. Scientific Reports, 11, 7396. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86560-0

Pierre, E., Louise, N. W., Marie, T. K. R., Valère, T. F. P., Arcence, J. M., & Fekam, B. F. (2016). Integrated assessment of phytostimulation and biocontrol potential of endophytic Trichoderma spp. against common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root rot fungi complex in Centre Region, Cameroon. International Journal of Pure and Applied Bioscience, 4, 50–68. https://doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2322

Sood, M., Kapoor, D., Kumar, V., Sheteiwy, M. S., Ramakrishnan, M., Landi, M., Araniti, F., and Sharma, A. (2020). Trichoderma: The “secrets” of a multitalented biocontrol agent. Plants, 9, 762. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9060762

Erfandoust, R., Habibipour, R., and Soltani, J. (2020). Antifungal activity of endophytic fungi from Cupressaceae against human pathogenic Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger. Journal de Mycologie Médicale, 30(3), 100987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mycmed.2020.100987

Hashem, A. H., Attia, M. S., Kandil, E. K., Fawzi, M. M., Abdelrahman, A. S., Khader, M. S., Khodaira, M. A., Emam, A. E., Goma, M. A., and Abdelaziz, A. M.. (2023). Bioactive compounds and biomedical applications of endophytic fungi: A recent review. Microbial Cell Factories, 22, 107. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-023-02118-x

Guo, D. J., Singh, R. K., Singh, P., Li, D. P., Sharma, A., Xing, Y. X., Song, X. P., Yang, L. T., and Li, Y. R. . (2020). Complete genome sequence of Enterobacter roggenkampii ED5, a nitrogen-fixing plant growth-promoting endophytic bacterium with biocontrol and stress-tolerance properties, isolated from sugarcane root. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 580081. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.580081

Nigris, S., Baldan, E., Tondello, A., Zanella, F., Vitulo, N., Favaro, G., Guidolin, V., Bordin, N., Telatin, A., Barizza, E., Marcato, S., Zottini, M., Squartini, A., Valle, G., and Baldan, B. (2018). Biocontrol traits of Bacillus licheniformis GL174, a culturable endophyte of Vitis vinifera cv. Glera. BMC Microbiology, 18, 133. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-018-1306-5

Xingyuan, Z., Linjun, M., and Fang, C. (2022). The medicinal potential of bioactive metabolites from endophytic fungi in plants. Mycological Progress, 3(4), 28. https://doi.org/10.1002/efd2.28

Ren, X. M., Guo, S. J., Tian, W., Chen, Y., Han, H., Chen, E., Li, B., Li, Y., and Chen, Z. (2019). Effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) inoculation on the growth, antioxidant activity, Cu uptake, and bacterial community structure of rape (Brassica napus L.) grown in Cu-contaminated agricultural soil. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 1455. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01455

Zhai, M. M., Li, J., Jiang, C. X., Shi, Y. P., Di, D. L., Crews, P., and Wu, Q. X. (2016). The bioactive secondary metabolites from Talaromyces species. Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 6(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-015-0081-3

Shu, X., Zhang, Y., Guan, L., Chen, Z., Huang, M., Chen, X., Yuan, Y., & Yuan, C. (2020). Antibacterial secondary metabolites of Clonostachys rosea, an endophytic fungus from Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. Chinese Journal of Biotechnology, 36, 1650–1658. https://doi.org/10.13345/j.cjb.190555

Li, Z., Xiong, K., Wen, W., Li, L., and Xu, D. (2023). Functional endophytes regulating plant secondary metabolism: Current status, prospects and applications. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(2), 1153. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021153

Shao, F., Wilson, I. W., and Qiu, D. (2021). The research progress of Taxol in Taxus. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 22, 360–366. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389201021666200621163333

cover

Published

2026-04-22

How to Cite

Phylogenetic Characterisation of Antimycotoxigenic Fungal and  Bacterial Endophytes from Maize Roots. (2026). Lafia Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 4(1), 206-211. https://doi.org/10.62050/ljsir2026.v4n1.823

Issue

Volume 4, Issue 1 (April, 2026), Lafia Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research (LJSIR)

Section

Life Sciences
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2026 Olukayode Olugbenga Orole, Henry David Dimut, Femi Gbadeyan (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Phylogenetic Characterisation of Antimycotoxigenic Fungal and  Bacterial Endophytes from Maize Roots. (2026). Lafia Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 4(1), 206-211. https://doi.org/10.62050/ljsir2026.v4n1.823

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Similar Articles

1-10 of 22

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.