Fungal Endophytes Diversity and Influencing Factors in Liquidambar orientalis Mill. in Türkiye

Abstract

Fungal endophytes were isolated from the leaves and petioles of Liquidambar orientalis Mill., an endangered species in Türkiye. Plant material was collected from 10 sites in September 2023, yielding 499 fungal isolates, classified into 38 morphological groups. DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of ITS and Beta-tubulin regions were conducted on representative isolates. All fungi belonged to the Ascomycota phylum, comprising 11 genera and 26 species across 15 families, with one group unidentified. The most prevalent families were Diaporthaceae (34.9%), Pleosporaceae (23.4%), and Botryosphaeriaceae (22.2%), with Diaporthe eres (15.0%) and Phomopsis sp. (12.4%) being dominant species. Fungal diversity was assessed using Shannon, Simpson, and Chao1 indices, revealing tissue type as the strongest factor influencing species diversity, followed by media and spatial factors. The presence of pathogenic families, such as Botryosphaeriaceae, highlights potential threats to the species. This is the first study to report fungal endophytes in L. orientalis, as well as the first records in Türkiye for several species, including Alternaria destruens, Alternaria alstroemeriae, Stemphylium majusculum, Diaporthe cynaroidis, Pseudopithomyces rosae, Nothophoma variabilis, Cladosporium endophyticum, Cladosporium colombiae, Muyocopron sp., Sphaerulina rhododendricola, Constantinomyces macerans, and Aequabiliella effusa.