Abstract
The investigation focuses on composition and diversity of phylloplane mycobiota of two mangrove species Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B. Rob. and Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco from Pakistan coast and greenhouse grown plants. Altogether twenty-nine fungal species of seventeen genera were recorded from phylloplane of the two mangrove species. Phylloplane mycobiota from greenhouse plants showed lesser number of species. Greater number of species and genera were recorded for Ceriops tagal compared to Aegiceras corniculatum. In general, the phylloplane mycobiota was dominated by the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Cladosporium. The genus Aspergillus was represented by seven species of which Aspergillus niger, A. terreus and A. flavus were most abundant measured by CFUs/cm2 on the phylloplane. Species diversity and its components for the fungal communities were estimated. It was found that the general diversity (H') was slightly but consistently higher for Ceriops tagal compared to Aegiceras corniculatum. However, equitability (J') was slightly higher for Aegiceras corniculatum. Regarding sites, equitability was slightly higher for Sonmiani and Keti Bunder but lower for plants grown in the greenhouse. The mycobiota assemblages, in general, were dominated by the genus Aspergillus. High qualitative similarities of phylloplane micro fungal assemblages were demonstrated between mangrove species and between sites. Generally, the diversity was lower for the phylloplane fungal assemblages of the greenhouse. The relationship between air-spores and the phylloplane fungal assemblages showed a great deal of correspondence.
