Climatic dependency on the diversity and distribution of endophytic fungi from Rauvolfia tetraphylla L., of Western Ghats

In the present investigation, altogether 210 segments from plants of Rauvolfia tetraphylla were collected during winter and summer seasons from Whestern Ghats of Kerela and they were screened for the presence of endophytic fungi. A total number of 10 species viz., Alternaria brassicae, Alternaria brassicola, Curvularia brachyspora, Drechslera sps, Nigrospora oryzae, Nigrospora spharica, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum graminicola, Pestalotiopsis versicola, Phyllosticta hymanaeae and sterile forms were isolated and identified based on morphological characteristics of the fungal culture and spore with the help of standard manuals. The results revealed that the diversity of endophytic fungi was higher in leaves followed by stem and bark. Among these endophytes, the hypomycetes were found to be dominant. Higher colonization frequency and greater diversity of endophytes were observed during summer season than winter season.