Endophytic fungi from Chelidonium majus L. as a source of chitosanolytic enzymes: isolation, identification, and enzymatic activity

Endophytic fungi are a promising source of enzymes with industrial potential. In this study, a preliminary evaluation of the capacity of endophytic fungi from Chelidonium majus L. to produce chitosanolytic enzymes was performed. Two strains, R and Z, were isolated from stem tissues and cultured on Czapek-Dox media. Microscopy classified strain Z within the genus Aspergillus. Chitosanolytic activity was evaluated in media supplemented with chitosan under both surface and submerged conditions. Both strains exhibited intracellular enzymatic activity, with the highest activity of 656 μmol/(min·g), determined for the strain labelled as Z. These results suggest that endophytic fungi may serve as a source of chitosanolytic enzymes. This is one of the first reports of such activity in endophytes from C. majus L., providing a basis for future studies.