DAVIS, CHRISTINE. Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, North Carolina, 27708. - Molecular identification of endophytic Xylariaceae (Ascomycota) from Jamaican species of Bazzania (Lepidoziaceae: Jungermanniopsida).
Abstract Fungi occurring in association with Jamaican specimens of
Bazzania were identified. Using a light microscope, fungal
hyphae were observed growing around and within the rhizoids of the
liverworts. Fungal cultures were grown from the rhizoids following
surface sterilization of the liverworts. The ITS region of nuclear
ribosomal DNA was extracted, amplified and sequenced from pure
cultures. BLAST searches revealed that the fungi are ascomycetes
belonging to the family Xylariaceae. These samples, in conjunction
with sequences obtained from GenBank, were phylogenetically analyzed
to further resolve the identities of the fungi. This is the first
report of endophytic Xylariaceae in liverworts, though species from
the family occur as endophytes in a broad range of seed plants. Future
avenues of research are discussed.
Key words: Bazzania, endophytes, liverworts, phylogenetics, Xylariaceae