Calamus castaneus is a common rattan palm species in the tropical forests of Peninsular Malaysia and is noticeable by the yellow-based spines that cover the stems. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of fungal endophytes within C. castaneus spines and whether they inhibit the growth of fungal pathogens. Twenty-one genera with 40 species of fungal endophytes were isolated and identified from rattan palm spines. Based on molecular identification, the most common isolates recovered from the spines were Colletotrichum (n = 19) and Diaporthe spp. (n = 18), followed by Phyllosticta spp., Xylaria sp., Trichoderma spp., Helminthosporium spp., Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Neopestalotiopsis spp., Arthrinium sp., Cyphellophora sp., Cladosporium spp., Curvularia sp., Bionectria sp., and Acremonium spp. Non-sporulating fungi were also identified, namely Nemania primolutea, Pidoplitchkoviella terricola, Muyocopron laterale, Acrocalymma fici, Acrocalymma medicaginis, and Endomelanconiopsis endophytica. The isolation of these endophytes showed that the spines harbor endophytic fungi. Most of the fungal endophytes inhibited the growth of several plant pathogenic fungi, with 68% of the interactions resulting in mutual inhibition, producing a clear inhibition zone of <2 mm. Our findings demonstrate the potential of the fungal endophytes from C. castaneus spines as biocontrol agents.

Fusarium isolates from highland areas in Malaysia were mostly recovered from two species of grasses, Elyhordeum montanense and Paspalum conjugatum. The isolates were grouped into four morphological groups. Based on TEF-1α sequences, morphotype 1 isolates were molecularly identified as F. graminearum species complex, morphotype 2 as F. venenatum, morphotype 3 as F. avenaceum and morphotype 4 as F. kyushuense.   Restriction analysis of the Intergenic Spacer region showed high levels of genetic diversity of isolates in F. graminearum species complex and F. venenatum. For mycotoxin analysis, only F. avenaceum and F. kyushuense produced beauvericin and moniliformin (0.869 & 0.321 µg/kg, respectively). Zearalenone was produced by 32 isolates of F. graminearum species complex (0.002 – 0.437 µg/kg), two isolates of F. venenatum (0.006 - 0.014 µg/kg) and F. kyushuense  (0.006 µg/kg). Only F. avenaceum isolate produced fumonisin B1 (0.001 µg/kg). The present study indicates the occurrence of Fusarium species commonly reported in highland areas in Malaysia where the weather is cooler and the temperature is lower than in the lowland areas. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of phylogenetic species within F. graminearum species complex, F. venenatum, F. avenaceum and F. kyushuense in Malaysia.

Endophytic fungi colonize plant tissues asymptomatically and may contribute to host fitness and protection against biotic stresses. This study characterized the endophytic fungal community associated with healthy leaves of lawn grass (Axonopus compressus) and evaluated the extracellular enzyme activities and antagonistic potential of the recovered isolates against selected banana crown rot pathogens. Molecular identification revealed a diverse assemblage of fungal taxa, including species of Curvularia, Colletotrichum, Diaporthe, Xylaria, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. In dual-culture assay, all tested isolates exhibited antagonistic activity against the target pathogens, with mycelial growth inhibition ranging from 16.67% to 70.00%. The isolates displayed variable extracellular enzyme profiles, producing cellulase, protease, lipase, pectinase, and amylase at different levels. These differences in enzyme activities suggest functional differentiation among the endophytic fungi and may reflect distinct resource-use strategies within the leaf microenvironment. The observed antagonistic activity may be associated, at least in part, with extracellular enzyme production, although the contribution of individual enzymes to pathogen suppression requires further investigation. Overall, the findings highlight A. compressus as a reservoir of functionally diverse, enzyme-producing fungal endophytes with antagonistic potential against banana crown rot pathogens, providing promising candidates for further evaluation as biological control agents for sustainable banana disease management.

This study investigated the isolation, characterization, and pathogenic potential of endophytic Fusarium species recovered from healthy mango pedicels, stems, and leaves. Based on combined TEF1-α and RPB2 phylogenetic analyses, three species were identified: Fusarium guangdongense, F. multiceps, and F. hainanense. Pathogenicity assays conducted using one representative isolate per species on detached fruits of M. indica (cultivated mango) and M. laurina (wild mango) revealed low to mild virulence, as indicated by limited lesion development. The tested isolates of F. hainanense and F. multiceps induced necrotic lesions on both wounded and non-wounded fruits of M. indica and M. laurina. In contrast, the tested F. guangdongense isolate induced lesions on both wounded and non-wounded M. indica fruits but only on wounded M. laurina fruits. Although sampling was conducted across five states in Malaysia, Fusarium isolates were recovered from only two mango trees, and pathogenicity was evaluated using one isolate per species. Therefore, the findings provide preliminary evidence of the pathogenic potential of these mango-associated endophytic Fusarium isolates under artificial inoculation conditions but should not be generalized to other isolates or natural disease development.