ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI IN FOLIAGE OF SOME CUPRESSACEAE IN OREGON

Endophytic fungi were isolated from foliage of 4 host species of Cupressaceae sampled from 19 sites in Oregon. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana and Thuja plicata showed high overall rates of infection (30-50%) while Calocedrus decurrens and Juniperus occidentalis showed lower rates (10-35%). For any particular host, samples from homogenous stands with a closed canopy showed higher infection rates than those from mixed stands with an open canopy. For a given tree, infection rates tended to increase with increasing foliage age and decreasing distance from the trunk (exceptions are noted in the text below). The most commonly isolated endophytes include Lindochium sp. and Geniculosporium sp. on C. decurrens; Scolecosporiella sp., Nodulisporium sp., Geniculosporium sp. and Chloroscypha alutipes on C. lawsoniana; Retinocyclus abietis anamorph and Hormonema sp. on J. occidentalis; and Chloroscypha seaveri on T. plicata.