Investigating the diversity of endophytic fungi colonizing leaves of three species of mangroves in Corentyne, Berbice, Guyana

Endophytic fungi are those that colonize the living tissues of plants without causing any disease symptoms. As colonisers of different parts and species of plants, they offer protection to the plant against herbivore and insect pest damages while also producing secondary metabolites which can be used in biotechnological processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of endophytic fungi colonizing the leaves of the Avicenna germinans (Black mangrove), Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove) and Laguncularia racemosa (white mangrove), from Palmyra, Bush Lot Beach and Wellington Park Beach, Corentyne, Berbice, Guyana South America. A total of 303 isolates were obtained from this study. These isolates were classified into 18 species and 9 genera. The 18 species obtained are Aspergillus calidoustus, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. luchuensis, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. terreus. Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp., Candida krusei, Cladosporium spp., Curvurlaria spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium citrinum, Pythopthora spp., and Rhizopus spp. Based on the Shannon Weiner Diversity Index (H’) calculation, Avicenna germinans was found to have the greatest species diversity followed by Rhizophora mangle and then Laguncularia racemosa. Aspergillus was found to be the most dominant genus of all isolates with A. niger and A. flavus being the most common species among all three species of mangroves