The foliar fungal endophytes of the Amazonian palmEuterpe oleracea

Abstract

A survey of the fungal endophytes in leaves of trees and saplings of Euterpe oleracea was carried out over two years. An average of 25% of the leaf discs taken from 10 trees and 10 saplings over four samplings were colonized by endophytic fungi. Overall fungal colonization was positively correlated with leaf age, plant growth stages, site, and the interactive effects of growth stage × season and growth stage × site. Fewer isolates were recovered from younger than from older leaves, and from trees than from saplings. Fifty-seven species and six familial taxa assigned mainly to the Ascomycotina and Deuteromycotina were isolated. Xylaria cubensis and Letendraeopsis palmarum were the most common species. Significant differences in the number of isolates of the 21 most frequent species were observed with respect to plant growth stages, season and site. A community ordination analysis showed that depending upon the host tissue, vein or intervein, trees and saplings located at different sites were characterized by distinct endophytic communities.