Occurrence and geographical distribution of mangrove fungi

Abstract

This is a multidimensional review of mangrove fungi occurring as saprobes, pathogens and endophytes of a wide range of host substrates and those isolated from the water columns and sediments in mangroves. Eight-hundred and fifty taxa including 658 that are supported by both morphology and molecular data and 192 with only morphological data are listed. These constitute Ascomycota, the dominant group with 773 species, and 58 Basidiomycota, one Blastocladiomycota, five Chytridiomycota, and 13 Mucoromycota. This study also includes data on mangrove yeasts 103 Ascomycota, 39 Basidiomycota and 193 taxa isolated from sediments. Endophytes isolated from submerged parts of mangrove plants total 38. The most specious orders of mangrove fungi are Pleosporales 133, Saccharomycetales 102, Microascales 101, Eurotiales 87, Hypocreales 60 and Xylariales 54. Speciose genera include Candida 39, Aspergillus 53, Penicillium 17 and Corollospora 16. The highest number of mangrove fungi have been recorded from the Pacific Ocean 553, which is the largest ocean, followed by Indian 408 and Atlantic Oceans 259. Geographical distribution of mangrove fungi varied from ocean to ocean with only 109 taxa common to the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Of the various countries reported for mangrove fungi, India accommodates the highest number (339) followed by Thailand 303, Malaysia 171, Florida Everglades, USA 134 and Brunei 134. A total of 60 different mangrove plants and their associates have been surveyed for mangrove fungi. These results are discussed and compared with previous studies.