biotech studies Biotech Studies 2687-3761 2757-5233 Tarla Bitkileri Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü 10.38042/biotechstudies.1904315 Mycology Enzyme and Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture Mikoloji Tarımda Enzim ve Mikrobiyal Biyoteknoloji Allium cepa bulbs and Allium sativum cloves host different strains of Fusarium oxysporum with distinct bioactivities https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6856-1728 Hossain Md. Mobarak Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8834-9422 Hoque Mohaimenul Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University Khaled Abdullah Bin Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8776-6564 Roy Puja Plant Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Biotechnology Ganakbari, Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka 1349, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0569-1763 Baral Prodip Kumar Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University 04 24 2026 35 1904315 1904315 03 29 2025 12 23 2025 Copyright © 1992, Biotech Studies 1992 Biotech Studies

Plant-fungi interaction serves various insights for research. Therefore, the study aimed to isolate endophytic fungi from Allium cepa (onion) bulbs and Allium sativum (garlic) cloves to evaluate the biological activity of their metabolites. Remarkably, a heteromorphic strain of Fusarium oxysporum was successfully isolated and identified via Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) amplicon sequencing: the strain from onion was designated ACE (OR062575), and the one from garlic as ASE (OR062574). Morphologically, ACE spores exhibited no defined shape, whereas ASE produced oval and amygdaloid chlamydospores. The fungal extracts were evaluated using the free radical scavenging DPPH assay, antimicrobial disc diffusion method, and brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Notably, ASE demonstrated approximately 1.5 times higher 50% free radical inhibition compared to ACE. The ACE extract (80 µg/disc) showed significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (18 mm) and Bacillus megaterium (16 mm), whereas ASE exhibited roughly half this activity at the same dose against E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Interestingly, the cytotoxicity of ACE had a logarithmic 50% lethal dose of 0.44 µm/ml, and no significant difference was observed from the reference vincristine sulfate. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into how different Allium species influence fungal genetic variation and metabolic activities.

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