Genetic diversity of endophytic fungi of Arasbaran Cotoneaster integerrimus

Plant endophytic fungi play an important role in the physiological and biochemical interactions of plants in response to environmental conditions and by producing specific secondary metabolites. In addition to preserving the host plant, they also gain economic importance. In this regard, the identification of endophytic fungi of Arasbaran Cotoneaster integerrimus shrub was targeted. Leaf and stem samples were isolated from the plant and, after surface disinfection, were cultured in a PDA medium containing Streptomycin. After growing fungal hyphae and culturing them, the PDB medium was used to continue the work. To identify the grown fungal, DNA extraction was performed and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed using Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) primers. PCR results showed that out of 15 isolated isolates, the ITS fragment was amplified in 9 isolates. As 3 isolates in Penicillium sizovae, three isolates in Alternaria alternate, two isolates in Penicillium and the last isolate were not named due to the low similarity of its ITS sequence with the database data and it is probably a new species and needs further studies. Phylogenetic analysis identified the four species in two completely distinct clades, so that the lowest genetic distance observed between the two Penicillium species and the maximum distance observed between the Penicillium sp and Fungal sp. The present study is the first report on Cotoneaster integerrimus endophytic fungi and shows that this plant hosts a small number and range of endophytic fungi.