Diversity of Endophytic Fungi of the Coastal Plant Vitex rotundifolia in Taiwan

Vitex rotundifolia L. f. (Lamiaceae), which commonly grows at sand coasts, is important for coast protection and the prevention of erosion. However, the diversity and roles of fungi associated with this plant remain unclear. A total of 1,052 endophytic isolates from 1,782 plants tissues from two sand beaches in northern Taiwan were classified into 76 morphospecies based on culture morphology and ITS or LSU rRNA gene sequence comparisons. Critical species were further identified using protein gene sequences and microscopy. Most of the isolates at both sites belonged to the phylum Ascomycota, with Pleosporales having the most species (15 species). The largest number of isolates (47.7%) was from the stems, followed by the roots (22.5%), leaves (16.6%), and branches (13.1%). The three species with the highest isolation frequencies at both sites were Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus terreus, and an undescribed species of Alpestrisphaeria. A. terreus was found in all organs. A. alternata was detected in all organs, except the roots. Alpestrisphaeria sp. was only found in the roots and stems. In the stems and roots, strain numbers from cortical tissues were approximately two-fold higher than those from the corresponding woody tissue. The overall colonization rate in the stems was significantly higher than those that in the roots and leaves. The majority of fungi appeared to be saprobes, which may play important roles in nutrient recycling during sand burial and mediate further stress factors in the coastal habitat.