| Abstract: | [Objective] Endophytic fungi can promote plant growth and enhance plant resistance to adverse environments. This article analyzed the community structure, biodiversity and distribution of endophytic fungi from cotton plants, and discusses the potential relationship between endophytic fungi community structure and biodiversity and the growing environment. [Method] Cotton leaves were collected from 19 areas in Shandong province, China. The endophytic fungi were isolated, purified and conserved with potato dextrose agar medium. After identification by internal transcribed spacers, the community structure and diversity were analyzed. [Result] The results showed that 134 strains and 15 genera (Alternaria, Fusarium, Diaporthe, Penicillium, Stemphylium, Bipolaris, Epicoccum, Curvularia, Nigrospora, Botryosphaeria, Lichtheimia, Gibellulopsis, Phaeosphaeria, Cladosporium, Setosphaeria) were obtained. Alternaria (77.12%) was the dominant genus of endophytic fungi in Shandong province. Fusarium was the dominant genus in the Bincheng district of Binzhou (66.67%), and Huantai (100.00%), while Alternaria (50.00%) and Fusarium (50.00%) were the dominant genera of Caoxian, and Alternaria (37.50%) and Setosphaeria (37.50%) were the dominant genera of Jiyang. There were significant differences in the colonization rate in different areas. The highest colonization rate appeared in Kenli (85%), followed by Chiping (85%) and Wudi (60%), while the lowest colonization rate appeared in Huimin and Zoucheng (5%). According to the Shannon-Weaver index, Jiyang had the highest diversity index (1.26), followed by Chiping (1.15), the Bincheng district in Binzhou (0.87), Caoxian (0.69), Yuncheng (0.64), Wudi (0.59), Kenli (0.57), Jinxiang (0.51), and Shanghe (0.35). Only single genera, Alternaria, were found in each of the locations Chengwu, Dong'e, Gaotang, Huimin, the Dongchangfu district in Liaocheng, Xiajin, Yanggu, Yutai, Zoucheng and Huantai. Cluster analysis showed that the 19 geographic areas could be classified into two groups. One group included Chiping, Wudi and Kenli, which had a higher colonization rate and more genera; the other one had a lower colonization rates and fewer genera. [Conclusions] The endophytic fungi in cotton were highly diverse. The distributions of endophytic fungi were distinct among regions in Shandong province. |
