Author(s):

Mosma N Shaikh and Digambar N Mokat

Abstract: Rhizosphere soil samples of commercially explored aromatic and medicinal plant, Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (Var. OD-19) were collected from Anand Agriculture University, Gujarat. A total of 62 fungal isolates representing 9 genera and 15 different species were isolated and identified. The most dominant fungal species were Aspergillus niger (20.96%), Aspergillus terreus (12.90%), Aspergillus flavus (9.67%), Rhizopus oryzae (8.06%), Rhizopus nigricans (8.06%), Mycelia sterila (8.06%), Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichoderma viride (6.64%) followed by Rhizopus stolonifer (3.22%), Penicillium sps.(3.22%), Curvularia lunata (3.22%), Fusarium oxyporum (3.22%), Mucor racemosus (3.22%), Curvularia inaequalis (1.61%) and Alternaria tenuis (0.62%). These fungal species were cultured on Potato Dextrose broth and bioactive compounds were extracted using ethyl acetate and identified by using GC-MS. Out of 62 fungal isolates Trichoderma viride was found to synthesize Citral, in Potato Dextrose Broth supplemented with 2 g/L geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) as an universal precursor of monoterpenes. Besides Citral, the two other important compounds were isolated include 1, 2-Benzenediol and 2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (Z)-respectively. The results indicated that rhizosphere fungi isolated from Cymbopogon citratus could be a potential source for isolation and purification of bioactive compounds which may have potential pharmaceutical applications. This is the first report of the rhizosphere fungi isolated from Cymbopogon citratus synthesizing Citral and other bioactive compounds.

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