Endophyyic Fungi Isolated from Abelmoschus Esculentusl. Fruits Obtained from Two Markets in Benin City.

Endophytic fungi are fungi which reside within the plant tissues and sometimes play a role in enhancing plant resistance to pathogens. The study into the isolation of endophytic fungi associated with Abelmoschus esculentus fruits obtained from two major market in Benin City, Edo was carried out with the aim of identifying the endophytic fungi associated with Abelmoschus esculentus. Endophytic fungi associated with Abelmoschus esculentus was isolated using the serial dilution method of the teased Abelmoschus esculentus samples. The fungal isolated were identified based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. The study revealed the four dominant fungal genera: Penicillium, Mucor, Aspergillus and Phoma. Penicillium sp was most prevalent in Uselu market sample having 66.67% and 73.33% in samples E1 and E2 respectively while Mucor and Aspergillus spwas found to be dominated in New Benin market sample having 60% and 50% in samples B1 and B2 respectively. The presence and distribution of these fungi suggest that environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and storage conditions significantly influences fungal colonization. The findings of this study highlight the potential importance of these endophytic fungi in agriculture, particularly in plant disease management, bio fertilization, and biotechnological applications.