First report of new endophytic fungi in grapevine trees (Vitis vinifera L.) in West Azerbaijan province

Fungal endophytes are microorganisms that reside in internal tissues of living plants without causing immediate or negative effects. In order to identification of the endophytic fungi of grapevine trees that is one of the oldest and most important cultivated plants, during summer and autumn seasons in 2011, samples from healthy shoots and leaves were collected from the Urmia and Sardasht regions in western Azerbaijan province. The samples were transferred to the laboratory, washed thoroughly with running tap water for about 15 min before surface treatments. Surface sterilization were done by the method of Schultz et al. (1993). Plant parts were washed 4-5 times with sterile distilled water, then surface sterilized for 1 minute in 70% ethanol followed by 15 minutes in 3% sodium hypochlorite, and finally were washed 4-5 times with sterile distilled water. Sterilized plant materials were cut into small pieces and transferred on PDA plates. Plates were incubated under constant darkness at 25°C for 1-2 months. Fungal isolates were purified on 2% water agar using single spore and hyphal tip methods. Fungal isolates were identified based on morphological data and sequence data of ITS-rDNA. Accordingly, eight species viz. Geosmithia pallida, Seimatosporium lichenicola, Arthriniun sacchari, Coniothyrium aleuritis, Cytospora chrysosperma, C. schulzeri, C. cincta and C. carbonacea are reported for the first time from grapevine trees in the world . The three species including; G. pallida, A. sacchari and C. aleuritis are as new taxa for Iran mycoflora.