Abstract:
Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales (BRIS) ecosystem has extreme physical
settings that not favour high decomposition rate. However, the role of microfungi in
decomposition process could not be neglected. Decayed leaf samples of Melaleuca
cajuputi, a dominant tree on the ecosystem, were collected and categorized into three
decay levels; early, intermediate and late decay according to colour. Direct isolation
technique was used to isolate leaf microfungi. Seven morphospecies of microfungi
were isolated from two phyla of Ascomycotina and Zygomycotina. This study
indicates that the decay leaves of Melaleuca cajuputi contains a microfungi reservoir
which contributes to decomposition process.
