Isolation, identification and characterization of endophytic fungi of Bambusa oldhamii munro applied as antagonists to Pyricularia oryzae

ABSTRACT Endophytic fungi, in addition to improving plant development, may produce antimicrobial substances that can inhibit pathogens. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize endophytic fungi of Bambusa oldhamii and evaluate in vitro antagonism to Pyricularia oryzae. Fungal isolates of B. oldhamii shoots were purified and identified by nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) including internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS4). These isolates were then confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of the ITS1 and ITS2 sequences and morphological analysis. The isolates were evaluated i...