| Abstract: | Seagrasses thriving in the marine environment are inhabited with rich endophytic assemblages which are less explored globally. The present study isolated and identified 42 culture dependent endophytic fungi through internal transcribed spacer (ITS1–ITS4) sequences and their phylogenetic placement was ascertained. Among the 42 culturable endophytic fungal isolates, 25 were identified up to species level, 15 to the genera level and 2 to the order level. Fungal taxa were represented by 13 genera (Penicillium, Eupenicillium, Paecilomyces, Aspergillus, Fennellia, Talaromyces, Eurotium, Teratosphaeria, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Cochliobolus, Phialophora and Simplicillium) belonging to the phylum Ascomycota, except Rhizomucor (Seagrass Endophyte—SGE 39) which belonged to Glomeromycota. Of these, 34 were Eurotiomycetes, 4 were Dothideomycetes and 3 were Sordariomycetes. Dothideomycetes are represented mostly by sterile mycelial forms and have only been identified by DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) sequence analysis. Penicillium and Aspergillus were encountered more frequently among all the seagrasses. Seven fungal genera namely Eurotium, Eupenicillium, Teratosphaeria, Simplicillium, Cochliobolus, Rhizomucor and Fennelia are reported for the first time as endophytes from seagrasses. The present study reports subtle variations in distribution of endophytic population in the tropical seagrases. |
