The present work aimed to study the endophytic fungi in Pinus taeda needles and to evaluate the effect of sample points in the tree. Samples were collectd in two different heights (30-50 cm and 100-130 cm over ground) and cardinal positions (North, South, East and West) in plants with 18 months old, located at Colombo, PR, Brazil. The needles were sucessively washed in sterile destilled water, 70 % ethanol, NaHClO 3 %, 70 % ethanol and sterile destilled water. Needle fragments of 10 mm of lenth were plated in PDA medium, incubated at 28 °C, fotophase 12h to 15 days. The reproductive structures of fungi were produced by microculture technique. Seventeen genera were identified: Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Coniothyrium, Diplodia, Drechslera, Hansfordia, Monocillium, Nodulisporium, Panidio, Papulaspora, Pestalotiopsis, Phialophora, Pithomyces, Rhizoctonia and Xylaria. Some non identified morphotypes were Mycelia sterilia and dematiaceous fungi. The number of isolates from the 30-50 cm height was significantly higher than the other. No differences were observed on number of isolates among cardinal positions at the same height. It was observed significant differences were observed among the isolated genera and Xylaria was the most frequent genus.
forest; microorganisms; phyloplane; pine
