Biodiversity of endophytic fungi associated with Ficus religiosa and F. benghalensis

Endophytic fungi were isolated from leaf and bark tissues of Ficus religiosa and F. benghalensis (Moraceae) in a tropical forest in southern India. Five hundred leaf and bark segments from each plant species were collected. Endophytic fungi were more numerous from leaf segments than bark. In this study, hyphomycetes were the most dominant group followed by coelomycetes, ascomycetes, zygomycetes, and sterile fungi. Leaf and bark tissues of F. religiosa had more endophytic fungi than F. benghalensis. Some endophytic fungi were common to both hosts, and few appeared to be host specific.