Abstract:

        We acquired 33 melanized fungi isolated from 21 specimens of 13 Umbilicariales from China and U.S. ITS nrDNA sequences based analysis indicates that all these fungi belong to 12 Capronia species. Analysis results also show that these fungi may be constant endophytic fungi and some selections exist between them and their host fungi. Different members of the same species of endophytic fungus may colonize in identical lichen for many times. Most of these endophytic fungi are close relatives of freeliving saxicolous fungi, not the extenders of endophytic fungi in lichen.

Key words: endophyte, lichen, Umbilicariales, saxicolous fungus