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.
- It has been named after its host plant, recognising the association between the fungus and the medicinal species.
What are Fungal Endophytes?
- They are microorganisms that inhabit the internal tissues of healthy plants without causing visible disease symptoms.
- They are 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.
