Endophytic Fungal Diversity of Cedrela angustifolia in an Environmental Gradient of Jujuy, Argentina

Abstract

Fungal endophytes are a diverse group of microorganisms that colonize plant tissues without causing symptoms or signs. Foliar endophytic fungi were isolated from a tree species distributed in an environmental gradient. Three study sites were selected: urban, peri-urban and rural. Twenty-three taxa were identified using culture-based techniques. The taxa with the highest colonization frequency were: Alternaría, Diaporthe - Phomopsis, Phymatotrichum, Cladosporium and Xylaria. Foliar endophytic fungal diversity was higher in the rural site followed by the peri-urban and urban site.