1: Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 2008 Feb;93(1-2):27-36. Epub 2007 Jul 4.

Endophytic fungi from leaves of Centella asiatica: occurrence and potential
interactions within leaves.

Rakotoniriana EF, Munaut F, Decock C, Randriamampionona D, Andriambololoniaina M,
Rakotomalala T, Rakotonirina EJ, Rabemanantsoa C, Cheuk K, Ratsimamanga SU,
Mahillon J, El-Jaziri M, Quetin-Leclercq J, Corbisier AM.

Institut Malgache de Recherches Appliquées (IMRA), BP3833, Avarabohitra Itaosy,
Antananarivo (102), Madagascar.

Fungal endophytes were isolated from leaves of Centella asiatica (Apiaceae)
collected at Mangoro (middle eastern region of Madagascar, 200 km from
Antananarivo). Forty- five different taxa were recovered. The overall foliar
colonization rate was 78%. The most common endophytes were the non-sporulating
species 1 (isolation frequency IF 19.2%) followed by Colletotrichum sp.1 (IF
13.2%), Guignardia sp. (IF 8.5%), Glomerella sp. (IF 7.7%), an unidentified
ascomycete (IF 7.2%), the non-sporulating species 2 (IF 3.7%) and Phialophora sp.
(IF 3.5%). Using sequences of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS)
regions, major endophytes (IF > 7%) were identified as xylariaceous taxa or as
Colletotrichum higginsianum, Guignardia mangiferae and Glomerella cingulata.
Results from in vitro fungal disk experiments showed a strong inhibitory activity
of the xylariaceous non-sporulating species 1 against G. mangiferae and C.
higginsianum and of C. higginsianum against G. mangiferae. This can be explained 
by antagonism between dominant taxa.

PMID: 17610142 [PubMed - in process]

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