Citation:
Abstract:
This study aims to assess the diversity and distribution of fungal mycoflora developing on Cedrus atlantica (Endl) G. Manetti ex Carrière needles in three sites in the Belezma National Park (Biosphere Reserve, Northeast - Algeria). Three sites were sampled according to a cedar decline gradient, these are the massifs of: Telmet (healthy site), Boumerzoug (moderately depressed) and Tougurt (decayed site). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) molecular analysis, allows identifying 19 endophytic mycotaxa. All the identified species have a weak occurrence frequency (less than 25%). In terms of specific richness, the moderately depressed site (Boumerzoug) homes the largest number of taxa (S = 17), followed by healthy site of Telmet (12 taxa), while the depressed site of Tougurt was the least populated (8 taxa). The hierarchical classification analysis (HCA) showed that the taxonomic composition of endophyte associations differs clearly from one site to another according to the cedar decline. The clustering representing healthy massif brings 2 species which are demanding phytoparasitic endophytes (Fusarium sp. and Xylaria sp.). The group associated to moderately depressed site hosts 7 taxa with a wide ecological valence, such as: Canariomyces notabilis, Canariomyces vonarxii, Chaetomium aegilopis, Coniolariella hispanica and Penicillium kubanicum. Then, mycoflora group noted in the decayed cedar includes 10 taxa, in particular, saprophytic mycotaxa relatively less demanding with a high ecological valence like: Biscogniauxia mediterranea, Alternaria arborescens, A. tenuissima and three species of Chaetomium genus. The mycotaxa distribution is related to the specific conditions of colonized trees. Taxa specific to healthy and decayed massifs would represent bio indicators of the phytosanitary and ecological conditions of colonized cedars.