Assessment of filamentous fungal diversity using classic and molecular approaches: case study – Mediterranean ecosystem

Abstract

Abstract The fungal biodiversity on the phylloplane of two microclimatic zones of the Natural Park of Serra da Arrabida, Mata do Solitario and Fonte do Veado, was assessed by classical and molecular methods. 562 fungal isolates were obtained from leaf washings of five plant species, in Fonte do Veado and 250 in Mata do Solitario. The most frequently isolated genera were Cladosporium (dominant), Alternaria and Penicillium . The genera with moderate occurrence were Trichoderma , Aspergillus , Fusarium and Phoma . Phylogenetic analysis of Cladosporium species positively identified clusters I–III and V, the isolates identified as Cladosporium sphaerospermum (26 %), Cladosporium cucumerinum (37 %), Cladosporium cladosporioides (18 %) and Cladosporium herbarum (13 %), respectively. The remaining isolates (6 %) were distributed in one cluster with four isolates, and a single member cluster.