Use of the its Region in the Identification of Endophytic Mycota in Fruits of Syagrus Coronata (MART.) BECC., Caatinga Bioma

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to identify the endophytic fungi present in fruits of S. coronata (licuri) through sequencing of the ITS (Internal transcribed spacer) region.   Theoretical framework: The Syagrus coronata palm tree, known as licuri, plays a significant role in the Caatinga, both in socioeconomic and cultural terms. The fruits of this plant host several types of fungi, including saprophytes, phytopathogens, and endophytes. The complexity of fungi taxonomic identification, due to the diversity and morphological similarity between distinct taxa, often requires the use of molecular biology as an essential tool for accurate characterization.   Method: The study used 14 isolates of endophytic fungi from fruits of S. coronota (licuri) preserved in the Mycoteca of the Mycology Laboratory of the Universidade do Estado da Bahia/DEDC - Campus VIII, Paulo Afonso. The DNA of these isolates was extracted to perform PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) using the primers ITS1F and ITS4. The PCR products were sequenced and analyzed with the Blastn tool, revealing 98 to 100% similarity in the accessions.   Results and conclusion: From the 14 isolates, four presented themselves as Chlamydospores and one as Mycelia sterilia, making morphological identification unfeasible, and four were from taxa without taxonomic identification. The taxa identified using ITS region sequencing belong to the genera Curvularia, Diplodia, Fusarium, Lasiodiplodia, Neodeightonia, and Penicillium.   Research implications: This study highlights the importance of using molecular techniques to complement the taxonomy based on morphological markers.   Originality/value: The primary purpose of this study was to use the ITS region as a tool for identifying endophytic fungi in licuri fruits, since in the literature the mycota of this botanical substrate, which is a biocultural heritage of Bahia, is practically unknown.