Fungal endophytes of the seagrasses Halodule wrightii and Thalassia testudinum in the north- central Gulf of Mexico

The purpose of this note is to communicate the diversity of endophytic fungi isolated from living leaves of Halodule wrightii and Thalassia testudinum, two ubiqui­ tous seagrasses in the north­central Gulf of Mexico. Fungi were isolated from surface­sterilized leaf fragments of the two plants that had been inoculated onto seawater malt extract agar. Leaves of T. testudinum harbored slightly more endophyte taxa than those of H. wrightii. Trichocladium alopallonellum and 10 other fungal taxa are new records for H. wrightii. No distinct seasonal pattern in fun­ gal filamentous growth was observed; however, our evi­ dence suggests peak activity may take place in spring.