Vertical distribution of fungi on leaves of three pine species from Nuevo León, Mexico

Abstract

The vertical distribution of fungi in seven types of pine leaves of Pinus arizonica, P. cembroides, and P. pseudostrobus was studied during one year by the method of isolation in culture medium in Petri dishes (indirect method) and by the use of moist chambers (direct method). 57 taxa of fungi were identified by the culture medium method, 56 taxa are adscribed to the Phyla Ascomycota and only one species (Gymnopus androsaceus) belongs to the Phyla Basidiomycota; Lophodermium australe, Pestalotia stevensonii and Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii  were the most abundant species; Cladosporium cladosporioides, Alternaria alternata and Ceuthospora sp. were the most frequent taxa. By the moist chamber method 28 taxa were determined; Lophodermium australe, Preussia sp., and Pestalotia stevensonii were the most abundant species; Preussia sp., and Coniochaeta ligniaria were the most frequent species. Well defined patterns of fungi were observed in both methods for the three pine species and for the studied leave types. Pinus arizonica, registered the bigger fungal diversity followed by P. pseudostrobus and P. cembroides. As the leaf degradation rate grows, the number of species of fungi decrease.