ENDOPHYTIC SPECIES OF NEOTYPHODIUM ON SOME GRAMINEOUS SPECIES IN IRAN

Some members of the familyClavicipitaceae are endophytic and have mutualistic relationship with the plant family Poaceae. Their relationship is beneficial for both host and fungus. In the present investigation, endophytic fungi were isolated from seed and leaf sheath of hosts Festuca arundinacea, F. ovina, F. pratensis, Bromus tomentellus, Melica persica and Lolium prenne. Morphological characters were checked on different culture media. Most of the isolates obtained from wild barley belonged to the section Albo-lanosa of the genus Acremonium and Neotyphodium. Sensitivity of the isolates to benomyl was tested and it was found that, media containing benomyl enhanced sporulation of non-sporulating isolates. In antibiosis test, it was found that most of isolates were effective against the phytopathogenic fungus Bipolaris australiensis and only two isolates of FoGn and MpFn were effective against Pythium aphanidermatum.