Isolation and identification of endophytic fungi from Avicennia marina in Ramanathapuram District, Karankadu, Tamilnadu, India

Avicennia marina (Tamil : Alai : Alai atti) : Avicennia marina is the dominant mangrose species in Karankadu and accounts for about 95% of the vegetative cover plant in Indian Sub-continent was investigated for endophytic mycoflora as a possible source of bioactive secondary metabolites. Being salinity resistant, this species dominate most mangrove area of the country including karankadu. Four hundred seventy three segments from 7 plants of Avicennia marina collected from different locations of karankadu mangrose forest in 2010 to 2011, were processed for me presence of endophytic fungi. A total 10 fungal species viz. Aspergillus flavus, A.niger, Aspergillus sp., penicillium sublateritium, phomo chrysanthemicola, P.hedericola, phoma sp. and candida albicans were isolated. Among the endophytic flora, phoma was the most prominent genus. Interestingly no endophytes was isolated from 110 leaves samples and overall colonization frequency from surface. Sterilized stem was 8.85%. __________________________________________________________________