Occurrence of fungi on tissues of Livistona chinensis

Abstract

Ninety-one species of saprobic fungi were identified from decaying leaves and petioles of Livistona chinensis. Leaves of L. chinensis were dominated by two species of Pseudospiropes during the first month, and subsequently by Lachnum palmae and Zygosporium echinosporum. Appendicospora hongkongensis and Oxydothis elaeicola dominated on petiole tips, mid-petioles and petiole bases of the palm. The frequency of occurrence and the relative abundance of the latter two species increased during the first 4 months. Astrosphaeriella bakariana dominated the petiole tips and mid-petioles after 10 months of decay. Fungi with sporadic dominance include Cocoicola livistonicola and Verticillium cf. dahliae on petiole tips, and Oxydothis obducens on mid-petioles and petiole bases. A correspondence analysis performed for fungi occurring on different tissue types revealed distinct clusters, corresponding to leaves and petiole parts. The high percentage of fungal taxa confined to the leaves or petiole parts indicated that saprobic palmicolous fungi exhibit tissue specificity.