FUNGAL ENDOPHYTES FROM OPUNTIA-STRICTA - A FIRST REPORT

A preliminary survey of endophytic fungi isolated from living, healthy tissues of O. stricta collected in the semi-arid regions of Australia was carried out. Endophytes were isolated during September 1992 from the stems of four plants growing in four locations in Australia. Twenty-three endophytic taxa were isolated and 15 were recorded from al least three sites. Most taxa are cosmopolitan species, but at least Coniothyrium opuntiae and Phomopsis cacti could be host-specific. Analysis of variance showed that no significant differences in fungal colonisation can be detected among the four sites and that the larger and older lobes closer to the ground are more heavily colonised by endophytes at all sites.