Fungi found in fir leaves, comprised of pathogenic, saprophyte and antagonistic species Raw sequence reads
In recent years, the incidence of a new pest has been reported in Guatemalan fir plantations(Abies guatemalensis), known as the Green Algae. It is characterized by a green cover thatgrows on the leaves and blocks sunlight, causing wilting and necrosis of the branches. Leavesshowing signs of the Green Algae, were collected in three locations, and the algae and fungipresent in the samples were identified by means of in vitro culture, microscopy and molecularanalysis of the EF and ITS regions. Four terrestrial algae from the genera Desmococcus,Klebsormidium (2) and the class Trebouxiophyceae, and 11 fungi from the genera Alternaria,Aspergillus, Fusarium (3), Mucor (2), Trichoderma (3) and Ulocladium (1) were identified. Itwas concluded that the algae cover is a biofilm made up of several species of epiphytic algae,saprophytic, pathogenic and beneficial fungi that may vary according to location. Factorsaffecting biofilm algal and fungal species richness and the symbiotic relationship between themstill need to be addressed.