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Fungal Diversity from Mangrove Leaves of Rhizophora apiculata and
Avicennia marina
Azwani binti Sahibu
Supervisor: Dr. Maizah binti M. Abdullah
Bachelor of Sciences (Marine Biology)
School of Marine and Environmental Sciences
Mangrove is important component in coastal ecosystems, but their survival rate
is degrading because of fungal pathogen disease. The objectives of this study
were to observe symptoms and determine the fungal diversity on mangrove
leaves of Rhizophora apiculata and Avicennia marina caused by fungi in UMT
campus mangrove. Fungi were isolated by using direct plating technique on
PDA media and identified morphologically under compound and scanning
electron microscope. Results showed that Rhizophora apiculata suffered more
leaf damage caused by fungal pathogen compared to Avicennia marina and
symptoms observed were black leaf spot, grey leaf spot, blight, sunken blight
and anthracnose. Of five symptoms observed, four genera of fungi were
successfully isolated which were Pestalotiopsis spp., Colletotrichum spp.,
Cruvularia spp. and Rhizopu spp. thus, there is a concern of fungal infection
consequently epidemic on mangrove ecosystem that need further
understanding to mitigate the impact especially the biological processes of
mangrove.
1803 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018