International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 11, Issue 3, March-2020 885 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2020 http://www.ijser.org ENDOPHYTIC FUNGAL DIVERSITY FROM FOUR WOODY LIANAS PLANTS OF GARBETA AND BISHNUPUR WEST BENGAL,INDIA Reshmi Dubey, Sagnik Bose, Aaheli Mitra, Cryptogamic Unit, Botanical Survey of India,West Bengal,India Abstract: Four woody lianas- Bauhinia vahlii, Celastruspaniculatus, Combretumroxburghii and Ventilagodenticulata were studied for screening of endophytic fungal diversity of these plants. Aerial tissues (leaf, petiole and bark) were assessed for endophytic isolation. A total of 218 tissue segments out of 375 were infested with fungi and 245 endophytic fungi were isolated. Average colonization frequency (CF%) was 58.13% and petioles of the climbers were colonized by a great number of endophytic fungi. CF% is maximum in Combretum sp. (73.33%) and in Bauhiniasp, 67.2%. A total of 31 fungal genera with few unknown genera and few sterile fungi were isolated. Highest Shannon-Wiener index (2.494) was shown by Bauhinia sp. with highest Simpson’s diversity (8,926). It indicates great species specificity. Celastrus sp. And Ventilago sp. showed the highest similarity coefficient (34.95%). Cylindrocladium sp., Pestalotiopsis sp., Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Verticillium sp., Chaetomium sp. are dominant endophytes. Keywords- Endophytes, diversity, lianas, fungi, indices. Introduction The term endophytes include all the organisms that live symtomlessly within various plant tissues [1]. They are classified into two distinct groups- bacteria and fungi [2]. But the most frequently isolated endophytes are fungi [3]. Huge number of endophytes remain in association with shade and moisture-loving woody climbers in stand forest [4]. Carroll and Carroll (1988) reported that endophytes live asymptomatically and sometimes systematically within the plant tissues. Endophytic fungi are very important in the biodiversity since they have an effect on structure and defence mechanism of plants and ultimately in the ecosystem [5]. Arnold et al (2000) isolated extremely abundant and very diverse group of endophytic fungi from plant tissues. Endophytic fungi are ubiquitous in distribution found within the tissues of plants, residing intercellular or intracellular, at least for a portion of their life cycle without causing apparent symptoms of diseases. IJSER