Quantitative composition and taxonomic structure of endophytes of agricultural crops

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan

Abstract

Various vegetative organs of the studied crops yielded 320 isolates of cultivated forms of micromycetes, with a predominance of filamentous fungi (249 strains). The level of colonization by fungi varied widely, ranging from 6 to 40%. This indicator was lower for yeast, ranging from 2 to 12%. The isolation ratio of fungal strains ranged from 0.08 to 0.54, while yeast strains ranged from 0.02 to 0.2. The taxonomic composition of endophytic micromycetes complexes in the studied agrocultures included 7 genera of filamentous fungi (Penicillium, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Trichoderma, Beauveria, Metarhizium, and Cladosporium) and 4 genera of yeasts and yeast-like fungi (Rhodotorula, Aureobasidium, Metschnikowia, and Cryptococcus). The greatest taxonomic diversity was observed in soybean and sweet clover. Barley and sainfoin also exhibited considerable diversity. The quantitative composition and taxonomic structure of endophytes are largely influenced by species, physiological state and stage of development of the host plant, type of plant tissues and organs, and environmental conditions.