Endophytic fungi inhabit apparently healthy plant tissues and are prevalent in
terrestrial plants, especially root tissues, which harbour a wide assemblage of fungal
endophytes. Therefore, this study focused on the isolation and characterisation of
endophytic fungi from the roots of wild banana (Musa acuminata). A total of 31 isolates of
endophytic fungi were isolated from 80 root fragments. The endophytic fungi were initially
sorted according to morphological characteristics and identified using the sequences of
the translation elongation factor-1α (TEF-1α) gene of Fusarium spp. and the Internal
Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions of other fungi. The most common fungal isolates were
species of the genus Fusarium, which were identified as F. proliferatum, Fusarium sp.,
F. solani species complex, and F. oxysporum. Other isolated endophytic fungi included
Curvularia lunata, Trichoderma atroviride, Calonectria gracilis, Rhizoctonia solani,
Bionectria ochroleuca, and Stromatoneurospora phoenix (Xylariceae). Several of the
fungal genera, such as Fusarium, Trichoderma, Rhizoctonia, and Xylariceae, are among
the common fungal endophytes reported in plants. This study showed that the roots of wild
banana harbour a diverse group of endophytic fungi.