O. Godwin Okon - Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria.
A. Rhouma - Regional Centre of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid, CRRA, Gafsa Road Km ۶, B. P. ۳۵۷, ۹۱۰۰, Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia.
A. Martins Udo - Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria.
A. Abbdul Ameer Matrood - Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, Iraq.
M. Saqlain Zaheer - Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed, University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan.
L. Hajji-Hedfi - Regional Centre of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid, CRRA, Gafsa Road Km ۶, B.P. ۳۵۷, ۹۱۰۰, Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia.

Endophytic fungi are considered an eco-friendly and bio-safe alternative to increase agricultural productivity. The study objectives were to isolate and identify endophytic fungi from the roots of Rhizophora racemosa and to assess their effect on the growth of Cucurbita maxima plants. Molecular identification of the endophytic fungal isolates revealed five fungal species: Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium equiseti, Penicillium citrinum, and Talaromyces albobiverticillius. A. aculeatus induced the best improvement rate of plant development with an increase of shoot length (۱۵۹ %), petiole length (۱۷۱%), internode length (۱۵۵%), leaf number (۱۳۳%) and leaf area (۱۴۹%)at ۸۴ days after the fungal treatment. This research highlights the importance of A. aculeatus, which can be an eco-friendly bio-fertilizer that can enhance the production of Cucurbita maxima and improve the agricultural sector. To confirm its effectiveness, experiments must be conducted in fields and greenhouses.

Bio-fertilizer, Eco-friendly alternative, Mangrove ecosystem, Plant growth-promotion.