Endophytic fungi from paddy.

Abstract

Endophytic fungi were isolated from different parts of healthy paddy plants (Oryza sativa). The most common endophytic fungal genus recovered was Fusarium, followed by Aspergillus, Curvularia, Penicillium, Gilmaniella and Arthrobotrys foliicola. Fusarium and Curvularia had higher occurrences in the seeds compared with the other fungi. Aspergillus was recovered mostly from leaf blades and Penicillium from the leaf sheath. Gilmaniella and A. foliicola were isolated only from the roots and leaf blade, respectively. The assemblage of endophytic fungi in healthy tissues of paddy plants may indicate that some of the fungi are possible latent pathogens and some may become saprophytic.