New Ecological Records of Cladosporium From Rhizosphere in the North‐Western Himalaya

ABSTRACT Cold‐arid environments represent underexplored ecosystems that harbor a rich diversity of extremophilic microorganisms, including fungi with biotechnological potential. In the present study, two species of Cladosporium viz., C. xanthochromaticum and C. tenuissimum were isolated from the rhizospheric soil of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. growing in the cold‐desert region of Ladakh, India. Morphological and cultural characteristics combined with molecular and phylogenetic analyses were used for their identification and characterization. C. xanthochromaticum is being reported for the first time from the rhizospheric soil and the North‐Western Himalaya of India, while C. tenuissimum for the first time from the rhizospheric soil of the selected plant. These findings significantly contribute to the understanding of fungal biodiversity adaptation in cold‐arid soils and highlight the survival capabilities of Cladosporium species in diverse, harsh environments.