Endophytic fungi of the “vassourinha” (Baccharis dracunculifolia D. C., Asteraceae)

Abstract

All plants host microorganisms, and many of these are endophytic, associating with the plants as mutualists and producing metabolites that make competition with pathogens possible. This reduces herbivory, the attack of insects and pathogens, and protects the plant, which favors its growth. In addition, protection and nutrients are provided to the microorganisms by the host. Studies on the potential of these microorganisms to be used by the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries are important because they can lead to the discovery of new substances. The goal of this work was to isolate and identify the diversity of endophytic fungi found in Baccharis  dracunculifolia. We obtained 511 fungal isolates from 15 samples, separated them into 12 groups based on morphological characteristics and identified them to the genus level. The colonization rates varied from 78.76±18.45 to 100% (leaves), 77.34 to 96.56% (stems) and 65.71 to 76.34% (roots). Among the 12 groups, the following taxa were found: Penicilium sp. (19.96%), Aspergillus sp. (15.26%), Fusarium sp. (14.49%), Colletotrichum sp. (10.17%), Acremonium sp. (8.61%), Scopulariopsis sp. (5.88%), Nigrospora sp. (4.89%), Cylindrocladium sp. (4.10%), Glomerella sp. (4.10%), Chaetomium sp. (3.13%), Trichoderma sp. (2.35%) and Phomopsis sp. (1.77%) were found. Of the fungi isolated, 5.29% were not identified.