FUNGI ISOLATION FROM LEAVES OF SOME MEDITERRANEAN EVERGREEN SCLEROPHYLLOUS SHRUBS - ENZYMATIC-ACTIVITY OF THE ISOLATED FUNGI

The young leaves of Olea europaea L. var. silvestris Brot., Ceratonia siliqua L., Quercus coccifera L. and Pistacia lentiscus L. are richer in nitrogen and tannins but poorer in carbohydrate contents compared to those of mature leaves. Forty fungal species belonging to 27 genera were isolated. The species isolated from mature leaves were about 2-4 times greater in number than the ones isolated from young leaves. Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus carbonarius and Penicillium glabrum were the most common fungi isolated during the survey. The greater number of fungal species was isolated from O. europaea leaves, while the smaller from Q. coccifera. Many fungi were common saprophytes while others were plant pathogens. The leaf tannin fraction precipitated by Tween 80 favored the growth of the fungi isolated from leaves rich in this tannin fraction. The tannase activity depended on fungal species and the leaves where fungi were isolated. The fungi isolated from Q. coccifera leaves presented the higher tannase activity. Trichoderma viride and A. carbonarius presented the higher cellulase and tannase activity respectively.