Molecular authentication of Salvia hispanica L., isolated endophytic fungi using DNA Barcode
1Suresh Babu P, 2*Katenahalli Rudrappa Maruthi, 3D.C. Bhavya, 4S.D. Shruthi, 5Shrisha Naik Bajpe, 5Abhijeeth S Badiger and 2Mohammad Faizan
1Department of Phytochemistry and Pharmacology, Trans-Disciplinary Research Foundation, Shankaraghatta - 577115, Shivamogga India 2Botany Section, School of Sciences, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad - 500032 India 3Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Synus Laboratory LLP. Bengaluru - 560099 India 4Microbiology and Molecular Biology Lab, Bio Edge Solutions, Bengaluru-560058 India 5Department of Biotechnology, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College Autonomous, Ujire - 574240 India *Corresponding author: krmaruthi@manuu.edu.in
ABSTRACT
The study aims to authenticate Salvia hispanica L. or chia, a traditional food in Central and Southern America, and investigate its endophytic fungal diversity. DNA was extracted from fresh leaves and Endophytic fungi were isolatedfrom the plant’s leaves. For authenticating the plant, ITS2 and rbcL regions were amplified. To validate the microscopicallyidentified endophytic fungi’s ITS2 region was amplified. All the amplified regions were sequenced. The plant and isolated endophytic fungi were authenticated by conducting the Homology search in NCBI Database. Sequencing of ITS2 and rbcL genes confirmed the plant’s species identity as S. hispanica and isolated endophytic fungi to be Alternaria longipes, Nigrospora camelliae, and Geotrichum candidum. The growth and characterization of endophytic fungi indirectly validate the food and medicinal importance of S. hispanica. The isolation and molecular characterization of endophytic fungi provide knowledge about the potential use of fungi in therapeutic applications.