A total of 229 endophytic fungal isolates were isolated from
various tissues. Results showed that the seeds exhibited the
highest number of endophytic fungi (102 isolates), followed
by the leaves (46 isolates), roots (45 isolates), and stems (36 isolates)
(Table 1). The seeds also showed higher CF and IR than
the other tissues and even the whole plant. The endophytic
fungal assemblage of stems was more species rich, as indicated
by H
0
and D
(Table 1). These indicate that the seeds
may likely provide better niche or more entry for colonisation
and penetration of endophytic fungi. Based on our current
knowledge of the biology of endophytic fungi, limited evidence
can be used to explain the phenomenon.
mn
Based on the BLAST and phylogenetic analyses using the
rDNA-ITS sequences of the 24 representative fungal morphotypes
selected according to the morphological characteristics,
the culturable endophytic fungal community was assigned to