Diversity of foliar endophytic fungi isolated from medicinal plants of Indian dry deciduous forest, Bhadrachalam, Telangana

Twenty Four foliar endophytic fungal species were isolated from the living leaves of 37 medicinal plants from Bhadrachalam dry deciduous forest localised along the river Godavari of Khammam district, Telangana state, India. Morphotypes of mycelia sterilia are predominant occurring among fungal endophytes encountered. Endophytes associated with Andrographis paniculata are more in number while Holorrhina antidysentrica supported minimum endophytic fungi. Species of Acremonium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Alternaria and Colletotrichum were frequently isolated. Arthrinium phaeospermum is a rare and infrequent endophyte mostly confined to Andrographis paniculata. Badarisima sojae, Emericella nidulans, Sordaria fimicola, Stachybotrys chartarum, Tretopileus sphaerophorus are the new endophytes reported for the first time. The results indicate significant information on endophytic fungal diversity associated wide natural dry deciduous forest flora which is under the threat of inundation by the ongoing Polavaram irrigation project.