Diversity and Halotolerance of Endophytic Fungi from Halophytes of Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan

Halophytes play an essential role in ecosystems, forming plant mass and seed material in salinization and water scarcity conditions, and have unique mechanisms that allow them to survive in regions where other crops cannot exist. This ability of halophyte plants is due, among other things, to endophytic micro¬organisms inhabiting various organs and tissues of these plants and adapting halophytes to stressful living conditions. The article presents data on the diversity, salt-resistance, and some characteristics of endophytic fungi isolated from 4 halophytes growing in the desert region of Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Thirty-five endo¬phytes from 44 obtained isolates exposed to stable growth for several generations. All cultures were tolerant to 5-10% NaCl in the medium; 13 isolates showed stable growth at 20% salt. The most significant number of endophytic fungi was isolated from the hyperhalophyte Climacoptera crassa.