Poster, XVII. Internationaler Botanischer Kongress, Wien: 17.06.2005 - 23.07.2005
Abstract:
Biologically active secondary metabolites are produced by numerous endophytic fungi and may be involved in fungus-host plant interactions as well. The diversity of Calluna vulgaris (Ericaceae) inhabiting fungi was characterised by molecular methods. Fungal strains were grouped by ITS/5.8S nrDNA sequence data and the 18S nrDNA was sequenced for representatives of each ITS genotype. The sequences were aligned with all publicly available high quality SSU nrDNA sequence data of Ascomycetes. A range of individual host plants derived from different habitats and physiologically standardized clonal plants were used. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of endophytic as well as epiphytic fungi revealed a wide spectrum of fungal phylotaxa at the hostspecific and site-specific level. The production of secondary metabolites by endophytic fungi in plants was characterized by various phytochemical methods. In addition, endophytic fungi obtained from mycelial outgrowth from surface-sterilized healthy-looking host tissues, were tested for their antimicrobial and enzymatic properties in culture.