Identity and diversity of culturable endophytic fungi associated with Capparis spinosa L. in Iran.

ABSTRACT: Endophytic fungi play a crucial role in plant health, contributing to stress tolerance, disease resistance, and ecological adaptation. However, the diversity and richness of endophytic fungal communities associated with Capparis spinosa L. in the Alborz, Tehran, and Qom provinces-ranging from semi-arid and slightly temperate to arid and desert climatic conditions-have not yet been investigated. Using morphological and molecular methods, we identified a diverse fungal assemblage comprising 3 phyla, 7 classes, 14 orders, 28 families, and 36 genera. Among the genera shared across all three provinces, Alternaria (28.8%) was the most dominant among the isolates, whereas Simplicillium (1.6%) was the least abundant. Analysis of the isolates using diversity indices revealed that species distributi

SUBMITTER: Karimzadeh S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12644486 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature