Fungi Isolated From the Endorhizosphere of Halophytic Plants from the Red Sea Coast Of Egypt.

El-Sayed M. El-Morsy

Department of Botany, Damietta Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, New Damietta, Damietta

Province, Egypt. PO. BOX  34517 (30). E-mail: sinfac@mum.mans.eun.eg

Endorhizosphere fungi were isolated from roots of nine halophytic plants collected in the intertidal region (Avicennia marina), salt marshes (Halocnemum strobilecium, Zygophyllum album, Z. simplex, Arthrocnemum macrostachum and Limonastrum monopetalum) and salt affected land (Z. coccineum, Zilla spinosa and Tamarix nilotica) of the Red Sea Coast of Egypt. Twenty-three taxa in addition to Mycelia Sterilia and unidentified yeast species were recovered in low numbers. With the exception of Chaetomium hamadae (ascomycete) all endophytes  were mitosporic taxa The most common species were Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporoides and Penicillium chrysogenum. The majority of isolates were of rhizosphere origin, with the reminder being endophytic in origin. Correspondence analysis indicated that some fungi occurred more often on specific hosts. Species of the genus Zygophyllum and individuals of A. marina from different sites co-ordinate closely with colonizing fungi. Alternaria alternata was found to be restricted to species of Zygophyllum whereas Papulaspora immersa exclusively colonised L. monopetalum. Alternaria alternata, Conoplea olivacea, Conoplea sp., Chaetomium hamadae, Trimatostroma sp., and Papulaspora  immersa were the fastest growing species in culture. The endophyte isolates were able to degrade cellulose, glucose, maltose pectin, starch, sucrose and xylan. Conversely, tannin represses the growth of most of them.