Diversity of Mangrove Fungi of North Malabar, Kerala (India)

Scientific knowledge on the structural and functional characteristics of mangroves and natural processes operating in the mangrove ecosystem is rather poor. Microflora especially fungi play an important role in the biodegradation in the mangrove habitat. A total of 23 marine fungi including 16 Ascomycetes, 1 Basidiomycete and 6 Mitosporic fungi were isolated from the mangrove forest of Mahe and Dharmadam (Kerala). Lignincola longirostris and Halocyphina villosa were the dominant species obtained. Aniptodera haispora, A. mangrovei, Biatriospora marina and Halosarpheia retorquens were found to be the rare species.