| Abstract
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Sea grass beds of Thalassia testudinum provide an essential habitat for marine species of economic importance. Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of mycelial endophytic fungi from undamaged tissue of T. testudinum , however the role of the endophytic mycoflora and its potential as producers of bioactive compounds is unknown. The main goal of this research was to identify the endophytic fungi producing bioactive compounds and their possible role in relation to the health of T. testudinum . Samples from damage and undamaged leaves of T. testudinum from Playa Buyé in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico were collected and surface sterilized with sodium hypochlorite (0.5%) and rinsed with distilled water. Each leaf was fragmented and the pieces were plated in Petri dishes containing Marine Agar and incubated at 25°C for 7 days. A total of 8 genera and 13 species were isolated, including Acremonium strictum, Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. versicolor, A. ustus, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Colletotrichum spp., Curvularia lunata, Curvularia brachyspora, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium janthinellum , and Scopulariopsis asperula . Bioassays were performed with filter discs impregnated with fungal extracts. A bacteriostatic effect was observed in cultures of some opportunistic and endophytic bacteria, suggesting the prophylactic role and the production of bioactive compounds of these endophytic fungi associated to T. testudinum . Host specificity test were conducted suggesting a non-pathogenic role of the endophytic fungi tested in relation with the health of the host plant.
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