Endophytic fungi were isolated from three unidentified Licuala sp. palms in
Brunei Darussalam and from three L. ramsayi palms in Australia. Endophytes
were very common in both species, with overall colonisation rates of 81-89
%. Taking into account a lower sampling frequency in Australia, endophyte d
iversity was similar in the two Licuala species. The endophyte assemblages
examined were very diverse, consisting of 75 fertile species and 60 sterile
morphospecies. The endophyte communities of both palms were composed of a
single, dominant xylariaceous species, approximately ten less common but eq
ually ubiquitous species and a large number of species occurring at very lo
w frequencies. Differences were observed between the endophytic mycotas of
different palm tissues and of tissues of different ages. The results presen
ted suggest that most of the endophytes entered the petiole via the leaf an
d that transmission of palm endophytes is likely to be horizontal (via airb
orne propagules) rather than vertical (via seed). Seasonal differences were
not observed in Brunei. Increased sampling effort could be expected to yie
ld more endophyte taxa in both species investigated.