Mangrove Endophytes Dig Sodium

Will Lockwood

Statement: Fungal endophytes found in mangrove roots have shown production

of a large range of salt tolerant/resistant biomass degrading enzymes. (-27 words)

Mangrove forests (mangals) have possessed an air of mystery around the

activity occurring in the microbial aspect of their rhizosphere. These thickets of aquatic
coastal trees have a proven hardiness against climate change paired with highly
productive nutrient cycling. In a paper published in “Current Research in
Environmental & Applied Mycology”, authors MS Paranetharan et al. investigated to
find a correlation between these trees’ microbial activity and their success as a key
component of their biome through their enzyme’s productivity. These enzymes were
found to be either induced by salt or have an increase of activity. It was learned that
only one fungal endophyte experienced NO inhibition with increase of salinity
concentration, two were inhibited only at high concentrations (3.5-4.5%), while the other
10 species growth were retarded due to the increase. Because of the crucial ecosystem
services these trees provide, a full understanding of their biological interactions must be
identified to prevent further loss. Further, the salt tolerant enzymes produced by the root
endophytes have been found to have many technological uses such as conservation
and restoration of historical paintings and stonework, production of biofuel,
bioremediation, food, and pharmaceutical processes.
Fungal endophytes in mangrove forests produce a wide range of enzymes that
break down tissues comprised of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. Researchers
collected endophytic fungi from the roots of various mangrove species and examined
them for their ability to produce these enzymes. A previous study on the foliar
endophytes, “Endophyte assemblages in young, mature, and senescent leaves of
Rhizophora apiculate…” by V. Kumaresan and T.S. Suryanaryanan, showed production
of extracellular enzymes after the leaves have been added to the plant litter.
“Chitinolytic enzymes from endophytic fungi” authored by Meenavalli B. Govindfa Rajulu
et.al showed production of chitin modifying enzymes which were produced by
endophytic fungi, leading the researchers to believe there may be beneficial
applications for these naturally occurring polypeptide chains. One shortcoming of this
article is seen in its limited scope, limited to Pichavaram and Andaman Islands of India.
Further geographical locations need to be included to see the global picture of these
species’ potential.