Isolation, Morpho-Cultural Identification and Pathogenicity of Fungal Endophytes of Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Leaves Collected in Natubleng, Buguias, Benguet
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Dec 26, 2025
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Abstract
Endophytes are microorganisms that live within plant tissues for part or all of their life cycle. These microorganisms have properties that are valuable in the agriculture and medical sectors. In the field of agriculture, endophytes are studied for their potential as biological control agents, in managing abiotic stress, and as plant growth promoters. Thus, this paper presents fungal endophytes isolated from asymptomatic potato leaves collected from Buguias, Benguet. The four fungal endophytes were isolated and identified based on morpho-cultural characteristics as Apiospora sp., Cladosporium sp., while the other two were unidentified. None of the tested isolates was pathogenic in a detached leaf assay of Granola potato, as evidenced by the absence of symptoms. The dual culture assay against Fusarium sp. showed varying levels of antagonism ranging from low to moderate (29%-60%), with Apiospora sp. exhibiting the highest inhibition. However, the risk of pathogenic behavior cannot be completely dismissed since endophyte-to-plant interactions depend on multiple factors. Hence, further pathogenicity and antagonistic ability tests of the endophytes under greenhouse conditions are recommended. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of fungal endophytes from potato leaves in the Philippines.
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Carreon, G. (2021). Molecular identification and in vitro interaction of molds associated with dry rot of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) collected in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines. Studies in Fungi, 6(1): 315-326. 10.5943/sif/6/1/22
Collinge, D.B., Jensen, B., & Jørgensen, H.J. (2022). Fungal endophytes in plants and their relationship to plant disease. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 69, 102177. 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102177
De Silva, N.I., Brooks, S., Lumyong, S., & Hyde, K.D. (2019). Use of endophytes as biocontrol agents. Fungal Biology Reviews, 33(2), 133-148. 10.1016/j.fbr.2018.10.001
El-Hasan, A., Ngatia, G., Link, T.I., & Voegele, R.T. (2022). Isolation, identification and biocontrol potential of root fungal endophytes associated with solanaceous plants against potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Plants, 11(12), 1605. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121605
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Magday, Jr., J.C., Alejandro, G.J.D., Bungihan, M.E., & dela Cruz, T.E.E. (2023). Diversity of fungal endophytes associated with the Philippine endemic ginger Vanoverberghia sepulchrei Merr. (Zingiberaceae). Asian Journal of Mycology, 6(2): 244–270. 10.5943/ajom/6/2/8
Marin-Felix, Y., Groenewald, J.Z., Cai, L., Chen, Q., Marincowitz, S., Barnes, I., Bensch, K., Braun, U., Camporesi, E., Damm, U., de Beer, Z.W., Dissanayake, A., Edwards, J., Giraldo, A., Hernandez-Restrepo, M., Hyde, K.D., Jayawardena, R.S., Lombard, L., Luangsa-ard, J., McTaggart, A.R., Rossman, A.Y., Sandoval-Denis, M., Shen, M., Shivas, R.G., Tan, Y.P., van der Linde, E.J., Wingfield, M.J., Wood, A.R., Zhang, J.Q., Zhang, Y., & Crous, P.W. (2017). Genera of phytopathogenic fungi: GOPHY 1. Studies in Mycology, 86, 99–216. 10.1016/j.simyco.2017.04.002
Pageni, B.B., Lupwayi, N.Z., Larney, F.J., Kawchuk, L.M., & Gan, Y. (2013). Populations, diversity and identities of bacterial endophytes in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cropping systems. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 93, 1125-1142. 10.4081/jbr.2023.10625
Quimio, T.H., & Hanlin, R.T. (1999). Illustrated genera and species of plant pathogenic fungi in the tropics. University of the Philippines Los Banos, College, Laguna, Philippines: College of Agriculture.
Ramirez, C.S.P., Notarte, K.I.R., & dela Cruz, T.E.E. (2020). Antibacterial activities of mangrove leaf endophytic fungi from Luzon Island, Philippines. Studies in Fungi, 5(1): 320-331. 10.5943/sif/5/1/14
Rashmi, M., Kushveer, J.S., & Sarma, V.V. (2019). A worldwide list of endophytic fungi with notes on ecology and diversity. Mycosphere, 10(1): 798–1079. 10.5943/mycosphere/10/1/19
Raut, I., Calin, M., Capra, L., Gurban, A.M., Doni, M., Radu, N., & Jecu, L. (2021). Cladosporium sp. isolate as fungal plant growth promoting agent. Agronomy, 11. 10.3390/agronomy11020392
Sadoral, J.P., & Cumagun, C.J.R. (2021). Observations on the potential of an endophytic fungus associated with cacao leaves against Phytophthora palmivora. Microbiology Research, 12, 528–538. 10.3390/microbiolres12030037
Sorensen, T., Petersen, C., Fechete, L.I., Nielsen, K.L., & Sondergaard, T.E. (2022). A highly contiguous genome assembly of Arthrinium puccinoides. Genome Biology and Evolution, 14(1). 10.1093/gbe/evac010
Taping, J.M.F., Borja, B.T., Bretanal, B.L.P., Tanabel, M.E.N., & Cabasan, M.T.N. (2023). Fungal endophytes as potential biocontrol agent of Panama disease of banana. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, 33(84). 10.1186/s41938023-00727-7
Tian, X., Karunarathna, S.C., Mapook, A., Promputtha, I., Xu, J., Bao, D., & Tibpromma, S. (2021). One new species and two new host records of Apiospora from bamboo and maize in Northern Thailand with thirteen new combinations. Life, 11, 1071. 10.3390/life11101071
Torres, J.M.O., & de la Cruz, T.E.E. (2015). Antibacterial activities of fungal endophytes associated with the Philippine endemic tree, Canarium ovatum. Mycosphere, 6(3): 266–273. 10.5943/mycosphere/6/3/4
Wang, X., Radwan, M.M., Taráwneh, A.H., Gao, J., Wedge, D.E., Rosa, L.H., Cutler, H.G., & Cutler, S.J. (2013). Antifungal activity against plant pathogens of metabolites from the endophytic fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 61(19), 45514555. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf400212y
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Xue, H., Liu, Q., & Yang, Z. (2023). Pathogenicity, mycotoxin production, control of potato dry rot causing by Fusarium spp. 10.20944/preprints 202307.1720.v1
Yasser, M.M., Mousa, A.S.M., Marzouk, M.A., & Tagyan, A.I. (2019). Molecular identification, extracellular enzyme production and antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Solanum tuberosum L. in Egypt. Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia, 16(1): 135-142. 10.13005/bbra/2731
Zhang, J.Y., Chen, M.L., Boonmee, S., Wang, Y.-X., & Lu, Y.-Z. (2023). Four new endophytic Apiospora species isolated from three Dicranopteris species in Guizhou, China. Journal of Fungi, 9, 1096. 10.3390/jof9111096
Aktar, M., & Shamsi, S. (2009). Fungi associated with Datura metel L. Dhaka University Journal of Biological Sciences, 19(1), 83-89. 10.3329/dujbs.v19i1.8947
Amatuzzi, R., Cardoso, N., Poltronieri, A., Poitevin, C., Dalzoto, P., Zawadeneak, M., & Pimentel, I. (2018). Potential of endophytic fungi as biocontrol agents of Duponchelia fovealis (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Braz. J. Biol., 78(3): 429–435. 10.1590/1519-6984.166681
Balendres, M., Karlovsky, P., & Cumagun, C. (2019). Mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in agricultural crop commodities in the Philippines: A review. Foods, 8(7), 249. 10.3390/foods8070249
Carbungco, E.S., Pedroche, N.B., Panes, V.A., & dela Cruz, T.E. (2017). Identification and characterization of endophytic fungi associated with the leaves of Moringa oleifera Lam. Acta Horticulturae, 1158, 373-380. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1158.42
Carreon, G. (2021). Molecular identification and in vitro interaction of molds associated with dry rot of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) collected in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines. Studies in Fungi, 6(1): 315-326. 10.5943/sif/6/1/22
Collinge, D.B., Jensen, B., & Jørgensen, H.J. (2022). Fungal endophytes in plants and their relationship to plant disease. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 69, 102177. 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102177
De Silva, N.I., Brooks, S., Lumyong, S., & Hyde, K.D. (2019). Use of endophytes as biocontrol agents. Fungal Biology Reviews, 33(2), 133-148. 10.1016/j.fbr.2018.10.001
El-Hasan, A., Ngatia, G., Link, T.I., & Voegele, R.T. (2022). Isolation, identification and biocontrol potential of root fungal endophytes associated with solanaceous plants against potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Plants, 11(12), 1605. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121605
Fernandes, E.G., Pereira, O.L., Silva, C.C., Bento, C.B., & Queiroz, M.V. (2015). Diversity of endophytic fungi in Glycine max. Microbiological Research, 181, 84-92. 10.1016/j.micres.2015.05.010
Gonzales, I.C., Kiswa, C.G., & Bautista, A.B. (2016). Sustainable Potato Production in the Philippine Cordillera Region. International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 3(6).
Guerrero, J.G., General, M.A., & Imperial, J.T. (2019). Foliar fungal endophytes of selected medicinal plants from the Province of Albay, Philippine. Science Diliman, 31(1), 37-53.
Hardoim, P.R., van Overbeek, L.S., Berg, G., Pirttilä, A.M., Company, S., Campisano, A., Döring, M., & Sessitsch, A. (2015). The hidden world within plants: ecological and evolutionary considerations for defining functioning of microbial endophytes. Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 79(3). https://doi.org/10.1128/mmbr.00050-14
Karki, H., & Halterman, D. (2021). Phytophthora infestans (Late blight) infection assay in a detached leaf of potato. Bio-Protocol, 11(4). 10.21769/bioprotoc.3926
Liao, C., Senanayake, I.C., Dong, W., Thilini Chethana, K.W., Tangtrakulwanich, K., Zhang, Y., & Doilom, M. (2023). Taxonomic and phylogenetic updates on Apiospora: Introducing four new species from Wurfbainia villosa and grasses in China. Journal of Fungi, 9, 1087. 10.3390/jof9111087
Lu, J.L. (2010). Analysis of trends of the types of pesticide used, residues and related factors among farmers in the largest vegetable producing area in the Philippines. Journal of Rural Medicine, 5(2): 184-189. 10.2185/jrm.5.184
Magday, Jr., J.C., Alejandro, G.J.D., Bungihan, M.E., & dela Cruz, T.E.E. (2023). Diversity of fungal endophytes associated with the Philippine endemic ginger Vanoverberghia sepulchrei Merr. (Zingiberaceae). Asian Journal of Mycology, 6(2): 244–270. 10.5943/ajom/6/2/8
Marin-Felix, Y., Groenewald, J.Z., Cai, L., Chen, Q., Marincowitz, S., Barnes, I., Bensch, K., Braun, U., Camporesi, E., Damm, U., de Beer, Z.W., Dissanayake, A., Edwards, J., Giraldo, A., Hernandez-Restrepo, M., Hyde, K.D., Jayawardena, R.S., Lombard, L., Luangsa-ard, J., McTaggart, A.R., Rossman, A.Y., Sandoval-Denis, M., Shen, M., Shivas, R.G., Tan, Y.P., van der Linde, E.J., Wingfield, M.J., Wood, A.R., Zhang, J.Q., Zhang, Y., & Crous, P.W. (2017). Genera of phytopathogenic fungi: GOPHY 1. Studies in Mycology, 86, 99–216. 10.1016/j.simyco.2017.04.002
Pageni, B.B., Lupwayi, N.Z., Larney, F.J., Kawchuk, L.M., & Gan, Y. (2013). Populations, diversity and identities of bacterial endophytes in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cropping systems. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 93, 1125-1142. 10.4081/jbr.2023.10625
Quimio, T.H., & Hanlin, R.T. (1999). Illustrated genera and species of plant pathogenic fungi in the tropics. University of the Philippines Los Banos, College, Laguna, Philippines: College of Agriculture.
Ramirez, C.S.P., Notarte, K.I.R., & dela Cruz, T.E.E. (2020). Antibacterial activities of mangrove leaf endophytic fungi from Luzon Island, Philippines. Studies in Fungi, 5(1): 320-331. 10.5943/sif/5/1/14
Rashmi, M., Kushveer, J.S., & Sarma, V.V. (2019). A worldwide list of endophytic fungi with notes on ecology and diversity. Mycosphere, 10(1): 798–1079. 10.5943/mycosphere/10/1/19
Raut, I., Calin, M., Capra, L., Gurban, A.M., Doni, M., Radu, N., & Jecu, L. (2021). Cladosporium sp. isolate as fungal plant growth promoting agent. Agronomy, 11. 10.3390/agronomy11020392
Sadoral, J.P., & Cumagun, C.J.R. (2021). Observations on the potential of an endophytic fungus associated with cacao leaves against Phytophthora palmivora. Microbiology Research, 12, 528–538. 10.3390/microbiolres12030037
Sorensen, T., Petersen, C., Fechete, L.I., Nielsen, K.L., & Sondergaard, T.E. (2022). A highly contiguous genome assembly of Arthrinium puccinoides. Genome Biology and Evolution, 14(1). 10.1093/gbe/evac010
Taping, J.M.F., Borja, B.T., Bretanal, B.L.P., Tanabel, M.E.N., & Cabasan, M.T.N. (2023). Fungal endophytes as potential biocontrol agent of Panama disease of banana. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, 33(84). 10.1186/s41938023-00727-7
Tian, X., Karunarathna, S.C., Mapook, A., Promputtha, I., Xu, J., Bao, D., & Tibpromma, S. (2021). One new species and two new host records of Apiospora from bamboo and maize in Northern Thailand with thirteen new combinations. Life, 11, 1071. 10.3390/life11101071
Torres, J.M.O., & de la Cruz, T.E.E. (2015). Antibacterial activities of fungal endophytes associated with the Philippine endemic tree, Canarium ovatum. Mycosphere, 6(3): 266–273. 10.5943/mycosphere/6/3/4
Wang, X., Radwan, M.M., Taráwneh, A.H., Gao, J., Wedge, D.E., Rosa, L.H., Cutler, H.G., & Cutler, S.J. (2013). Antifungal activity against plant pathogens of metabolites from the endophytic fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 61(19), 45514555. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf400212y
World Weather Online. (n.d). Buguias annual weather averages – Benguet, PH. (n.d.). World Weather API and Weather Forecast. https://www.world weatheronline.com/buguias-weatheraverages/enguet/ph.aspx#google_vignette
Xue, H., Liu, Q., & Yang, Z. (2023). Pathogenicity, mycotoxin production, control of potato dry rot causing by Fusarium spp. 10.20944/preprints 202307.1720.v1
Yasser, M.M., Mousa, A.S.M., Marzouk, M.A., & Tagyan, A.I. (2019). Molecular identification, extracellular enzyme production and antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Solanum tuberosum L. in Egypt. Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia, 16(1): 135-142. 10.13005/bbra/2731
Zhang, J.Y., Chen, M.L., Boonmee, S., Wang, Y.-X., & Lu, Y.-Z. (2023). Four new endophytic Apiospora species isolated from three Dicranopteris species in Guizhou, China. Journal of Fungi, 9, 1096. 10.3390/jof9111096