In: Sydowia 77, (2024): 141-147; ISSN 0082-0598, DOI 10.12905/0380.sydowia76-2024-0141, Published online on September 10, 2024

Diversity of endophytic fungi in potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants in Iran

Nasim Alijani Mamaghani

Laboratory of Mycology, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Engineering, College of Agriculture
and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
Current address: Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Ridgetown, ON, Canada
e-mails: nalijani@uoguelph.ca, alijani.nassim@gmail.com

Alijani Mamaghani N. (2024) Diversity of endophytic fungi in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants in Iran. – Sydowia 77:
141–147.

The endophytic mycobiota of 84 symptomless mature potato plants collected in 21 farms each of two Iranian provinces, Ardebil
and south Kerman, were studied. A total of 491 isolates yielded 52 different fungal taxa. Some of the taxa isolated are
known as potato pathogens and a few of them (especially Fusarium spp.) potential mycotoxin producers. Alternaria spp. were
dominant in both sites in the aerial and Fusarium spp. in the underground parts. Almost all other taxa were present at frequencies
<10 %. The two sites were quite similar with regards to their evenness values, but the species richness of the Kerman samples
was higher. The most common endophytic species displayed an organ specificity that allowed distinguishing between aerial and
underground organs.

Keywords: biodiversity, ecology, endophyte, organ specificity.