Mangroves are known to be an important marine ecosystem that provide various services such as shoreline protection and acting as nursing grounds for marine organisms. While we emphasize the ecological importance of the mangrove ecosystem and the macroorganisms that reside within it, the microorganisms often get overlooked. One of the important groups of microorganisms are the endophytic fungi (EF), which live inside plant tissues without causing any apparent harm to their hosts, forming symbiotic relationships with the plants. EF are known to enhance plant growth, improve stress tolerance, and provide protection against pathogens and herbivores. Some studies have also shown that bioactive compounds isolated from EF could have medicinal or agricultural benefits. The harsh mangrove environment is believed to give rise to high microbial diversity that is unique to the mangrove ecosystem, which biodiversity and biotechnological potential remains poorly studied. In our research group, we explore EF in the diverse but declining Malaysian mangroves for their diversity and potential bioactivities. Our results point to high variation of EF communities between mangrove species, and sometimes among individuals of the same species at different locations. In terms of bioactivities, the isolated EF harbour compounds that are linked to potential anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities. Interestingly, despite inhabiting the tropical intertidal zone that is subjected to long hours of direct sunlight, EF do not seem to grow well beyond 35°C. This points to yet another potential threat to the mangrove ecosystem under the scenario of global warming, given the importance of EF to the overall survivability of plant species. Outcomes from our studies will not only improve our current understanding of the mangrove ecosystem, but also lay a foundation for the exploration of biotechnological potential of naturally occurring mangrove microbial communities, leading to better appreciation and conservation of this unique ecosystem.

mangrove endophyte, mangrove biodiversity