Species Composition and Hydrolase Activity of Fungi Isolated from Medicinal Plants in the Conditions of Azerbaijan
Gulnar Aliyeva 
Abstract. This paper provides a comprehensive investigation into the medicinal plants belonging to the flora of Azerbaijan, focusing on the species composition of their associated mycobiota, the enzymatic profile of hydrolytic complexes, and the phytotoxicity of specific fungal strains isolated from these hosts. Mycological assessments revealed that the studied medicinal plants serve as a specialized ecological niche and habitat for a diverse range of microscopic fungi. Biochemical analysis of the isolated mycobiota established that certain strains possess the capability to synthesize a highly balanced hydrolytic enzyme system. This enzymatic system effectively degrades the complex structural components of the host plant's cell walls, thereby facilitating fungal penetration and tissue colonization. Furthermore, the study elucidates the distinct dual role of proteolytic enzymes within the infection mechanism. It was demonstrated that the activity level of proteolytic enzymes acts as a limiting factor in the regulated pathogenesis process of primary phytopathogenic fungi. Conversely, for the causative agents of secondary mycoses, this enzymatic activity functions as a key factor contributing to and aggravating their opportunistic and destructive actions. These findings provide crucial insights into the molecular regulation of fungal virulence and offer a foundational framework for developing target-specific enzyme inhibitors as next-generation green fungicides.
Keywords: medicinal plants, mycobiota, hydrolytic enzymes, phytotoxicity, limiting and contributing factor