Endophytic fungi of Manilkara bidentata leaves in Puerto Rico

Abstract

Endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy leaves of Manilkara bidentata (Sapotaceae) collected in Puerto Rico. One leaf was collected from each of three trees. Four 5 × 20 mm panels were cut from each leaf, surface sterilized, cut into 50 1 × 2 mm pieces, and plated on malt agar. Petioles were cut into ten 1 mm segments. Fungi were isolated from 90%-95% of the leaf pieces and all of the petiole segments. Xylaria spp. were found in 73%-74% of the leaf pieces in two of the three leaves, but only 21% in the third leaf. Xylaria cf. multiplex, X. cf. adscendens, a member of the X. mellisii/X. arbuscula complex, and 20 other fungal species were isolated. Nineteen of the 22 species on leaf blades were found on at least two of the three leaves, but half of the 12 species in petioles were unique to one leaf. The 22 species islolated from leaf blades fit a lognormal distribution. An estimated three to six species were not discovered, indicating that the 22 species found on leaf blades represented 79%-88% of the endophytic community.

Key Words:

• Xylaria
• species diversity
• tropical forest