Fungal diversity on decomposing biomass of mangrove plant Rhizophora in Pichavaram estuary, east coast of India

Abstract

Mycological examination of dead wood, prop roots and seedlings of Rhizophora spp. (R. apiculata and R. mucronata) yielded 48 fungal species belonging to 36 genera with Ascomycotina being most prevalent. The number of fungi recorded on prop roots (44) were much greater when compared with seedlings (18) and wood (16). Each substrate had its own common, frequent and occasional fungi appearing on them. The most common and abundant fungus on wood was Lophiostoma mangrovei. Verruculina enalia was most common on prop roots and seedlings. Some of the fungi were found to occur on all the three substrates, but their frequency and percentage occurrence on individual substrates varied. Halocyphina villosa, the lone Basidiomycete recorded was more abundant on seedlings, while Monodictys pelagica showed relatively high occurrence on wood and the least on seedlings.