Biodiversity and distribution of fungi associated with decomposing Nypa fruticans

Abstract

Fungi associated with the decomposition of Nypa fruticans in Malaysia are under investigation. Forty-one fungi have been identified including 35 ascomycetes, four mitosporic fungi and two basidiomycetes. The distribution of intertidal fungi on palm structures including leaves, leaf veins, rachides, petiole bases, and inflorescences, and fungi on terrestrial parts have also been examined. No fungi were found on the leaf material, although several fungi were found on the leaf midribs, and possible reasons for this are given. Very few taxa developed on the inflorescences, but those that were present were abundant. The greatest density of fruiting structures occurred on the rachides, and the greatest diversity of fungal species occurred on the petiole bases. The terrestrial fungi differed from the intertidal fungi, although Linocarpon nipae occurred in both habitats. Reasons for the differences in fungal numbers and diversity on the various palm parts are discussed. The diversity of fungi at Morib mangrove was low when compared to previous studies on fungi on Nypa palm at Kampong Api Api in Brunei and in this study at Kuala Selangor mangrove in Malaysia.