Endophytes, an integral part of the plant microbiome, are mainly fungi that reside within intercellular tissues of plants without triggering any disease symptoms. Like other microbial invasions, endosymbionts produce extracellular hydrolases as a resistance mechanism to overpower the immune responses of the host or to utilize host nutrients for survival. About 133 endophytes isolated from eleven macroalgae of Kerala Coast, India were screened for their catalytic potential. Screening was done for a total of ten enzymes by plate assay method. Out of the 133 isolates screened, 123 isolates expressed asparaginase activity (92.5 %). More than 60% of isolates exhibited amylase (89.5 %), lipase (88 %), gelatinase (78.9 %) and glutaminase (69.2 %) activity. Quantitative estimation of asparaginase production in Czapek Dox medium by potent strains revealed that Penicillium chrysogenum exhibited maximum asparaginase production. The glutaminase free asaraginase production of P. chrysogenum would be a potential source to explore for therapeutic applications.  

Endophyte, Fungi, Macroalgae, Hydrolytic Enzyme, Asparaginase