Acanthaster planci

commonly known as the crown of thorns starfish

usually preys upon scleractinian corals. Recently

Acanthaster planci has been found biocenotic association with diverse and abundant microbial communities. Using three different media

nearly 200 strains of the endophytic fungi were isolated from the Acantaster planci collected from the Sanya

Hainan province

China. The ITS-rDNA gene of 16 strains were sequenced

and submitted to GenBank. The register numbers of the sequences for these strains are KF999808KF999822 and KJ723458. The phylogenetic tree was then constructed by using a neighborjoining method

as well as the population diversity analysis. 16 strains belonging to 2 phyla (Deuteromycota

Ascomycota)

5 orders (Hypocreales

Eurotiales

Meliolales

Microascales)

6 genera (Trichoderma

Pseudallescheria

Penicillium

Neosartorya

Leptosphaerulina

Pleosporale

Fusarium

) were classified into 8 groups. And ten strains belonging to Fusarium indicates that Fusarium is the dominant fungi

and the endophytic fungi community with form of commensalism of Acanthaster planci has the low degree of homogeneity.