Screening of endophytic fungi from a lianas of three localities

An woody lianas- Bauhinia vahlii, collected from 3 localities during rainy season was studied for screening of endophytic fungal diversity. Aerial tissues (leaf, petiole and stem) were selected for endophytic isolation. A total of 150 tissue segments out of 225 were infested with fungi and 153endophytic fungi were isolated. Average colonization frequency (CF%) was 66.66% and petioles of the climber were colonized by a great number of endophytic fungi i.e. 82.66%. CF% is maximum in the plant collected from Belpahari, it is 78.66% and minimum in the plant of Godapiasal, it was 54.66%. A total of 10 fungal genera with few unknown genera and few sterile fungi were isolated. Highest Shannon-Wiener index (2.067) was shown in the plant of Godapiasaland with highest Simpson’s diversity (0.85). It indicates great species specificity. Fungi of Dothidiomycetes were maximum (38.81%).