LAUSR

The present study aimed to assess the diversity of saprobic fungi associated with three decompositional stages of Hevea brasiliensis (Wild. ex Juss.) Mull. Arg. leaves along a chronosequence of plantations. The modified surface disinfection culture method was followed for isolation of saprobic fungi from three different phases (G1, G2 and G3) of decomposing leaves. The result revealed 51 species of fungi isolated from three plantations. There was an increasing trend of number of species along a chronosequence of plantations. Cladosporium sp. was isolated from all the phases of decomposition from all the three plantations. There is an increasing trend in diversity and a decreasing trend in dominance of fungi along a chronosequence of plantations. Overall, higher number of species and maximum diversity was recorded in G2 (Hʹ = 3.61) among the decompositional phases. The study suggests increase in diversity along a chronosequence of plantations and the similarity index suggests distinct fungal occurrence pattern in the leaf litter along a chronosequence of plantations.