Mollisia sokpayensia

Mollisia sokpayensia Latest News

A team of microbiologists recently discovered a novel fungal species named Mollisia sokpayensia.

About Mollisia sokpayensia

• It is a new species of fungus.
• It is a fungal endophyte isolated from a rhizome of Panax sokpayensis, a rare and high-value medicinal plant found in the Sikkim Himalaya.  
• Mollisia sokpayensia has been named after its host plant, recognising the association between the fungus and the medicinal species. 
• ​In the laboratory, the fungus was isolated using Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), a commonly used medium for cultivating fungi. 
• The species exhibited notably slow growth under laboratory conditions. 
• At 28°C, its colonies initially appeared cottony and brown, reaching a diameter of 2–3 cm after six days and approximately 8 cm after 14 days. 
• The colonies gradually changed colour from brown to blackish-brown. 

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What are Fungal Endophytes?

• They are microorganisms that inhabit the internal tissues of healthy plants without causing visible disease symptoms. 
• They are quite distinct from the fungi that grow on the surface of plants (epiphytic fungi). 
• They can form associations with their hosts and are increasingly studied for their potential to produce bioactive compounds relevant to medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.

News: IT