Endophytic fungi associated with lichens in Baihua mountain of Beijing, China

Abstract

Endophytic fungi of seven lichen species belonging to five families were investigated in Baihua mountain of Beijing. Various colonization rates (56.3-100%) of endophytic fungi were found among the lichens. A total of 32 taxa from 488 thallus segments were obtained, with 14 ascomycetes, 16 hyphomycetes, one ceolomycetes and one yeast. Scopulariopsis sp. was distributed in six out of seven lichens and was the dominant species in five lichens. Geniculosporium serpens was the dominant species in the lichen, Dermatocarpon miniatum. Sporormiella species only occurred in Xanthoria mandschurica. Thielavia fungi as endophytes were first reported. Different Shannon-Weiner diversity indices (0.48-1.85) for endophytic fungi were found in the seven lichens. Low endophyte composition similarities (Cs: 0-0.55) were obtained among the seven lichens. Results of this study suggest that abundant endophytic fungi are distributed within lichen thalli and endophyte composition is different among the lichens.