Bryendophyte fungal association of Hyophila involuta in Northern Thailand

Bryophytes exhibit remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and employ a wide variety of symbiotic relationships with microorganisms. This study focuses on the bryendophyte fungal association of the cosmopolitan moss, Hyophila involuta. We present the first detailed insights into the fungal endophytes of H. involuta, focusing on culturable isolates obtained from a single collection site in Northern Thailand. Morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, tub, rpb2, tef) were employed to identify the fungal isolates. We report one novel species Purpureocillium hyophilae, and the first report of the asexual morph of Biscogniauxia mangiferae. In addition, new geo-host records of Fusicolla quarantenae, Neocosmospora falciformis and Neopestalotiopsis paeoniae-suffruticosae are reported. This study demonstrates the importance of extensive sampling and the use of multiple gene analyses in accurately identifying fungal isolates, thereby significantly contributing to our understanding of the endophytic fungal symbiosis with bryophytes.