FUNGAL ENDOPHYTES OF DRYAS-OCTOPETALA FROM A HIGH ARCTIC POLAR SEMIDESERT AND FROM THE SWISS ALPS

Endophytes were isolated from leaves, stems and roots of Dryas octopet ala sampled in Switzerland and Spitsbergen. Endophyte assemblages from different sites and at different sampling times were diverse. Seventy -three species were isolated in the four sites examined and 38 had fre quencies of more than 10% in at least one sample. Samples from the sub alpine region were generally richer in species than those collected in the alpine or Arctic regions. Leaves tended to host more endophyte ta xa than twigs or roots.