Purification and characterization of endophytic fungal strains from four different high value medicinal plants of Kashmir valley

This study was designed to isolate, purify and characterize endophytic fungi from four different high value medicinal plants of Kashmir valley as a possible source of bioactive secondary metabolites.A total of 14 morphologically different endophytic strains were isolated from the plants exploited for endophytes.All isolates were identified based on colony morphology, examination of spores and light microscopes.The endophytic fungi were successfully isolated from the plants using the surface disinfection method.The optimized parameters for the optimum growth of the endophytic fungi were obtained as temperature of 28°C, pH5.6, potato dextrose broth medium and rpm at 180-200.