Phylogeny and Leaf Pathogenicity of Endophytic Eurotiales in Mangrove
Investigating the taxonomic diversity and potential latent pathogenicity of endophytic Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Talaromyces species associated with Avicennia marina.
From Endophytism to Latent Pathogenicity
The fungal order Eurotiales encompasses ecologically versatile genera that frequently inhabit extreme environments. In this collaborative study (co-authored with Prof. M. Javan-Nikkhah and K. Sharifi), we focused on characterizing endophytic Eurotiales strains recovered from healthy mangrove foliage in Qeshm Island.
Beyond molecular phylogeny and detailed micro-morphological profiling of conidiophores and phialides, a key objective was to evaluate the ecological role of these endophytes along the endophyte–pathogen continuum. We conducted detached-leaf pathogenicity assays on Avicennia marina leaves under controlled conditions to determine whether these asymptomatic endophytes can act as latent pathogens when host tissues experience physiological stress.