Abstract:In order to understand the diversity of culturable cellulose-decomposing fungi(CCDF),ten surface(0-20cm) soil samples collected at the altitude ranging from 960m to 2900m, in Gaoligongshan Mountain, where are the key areas for biodiversity protection in the world, were studied. Cellulose-decomposing aerobic fungal isolates were obtained using both Carboxymthyl cellulose-congo red (CMC-CR) plates and potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates from the soils. Polysaccharide hydrolase (Endoglucanase) activities of the isolates were determined by liquid fermentation. The plate counting results showed that the numbers of the cellulose-decomposing fungi (1.1×103-1.4×104 CFU/g) from lower altitude soils were higher than those from higher altitude soils. The correlation analysis showed that the correlation is varied among culturable cellulose-decomposing fungi and the ecological factors. The quantity and diversity of culturable cellulose-decomposing fungi in these soils are significantly correlated with organic matter, total nitrogen and water content. In addition, the quantity of them are significantly correlated with temperature and altitude. Different plant community and human disturbance have effected on the quantities and diversity of CCDF. A total of thirty five independent isolates belonging to 15 fungal genera were identified by both morphological characteristics and rDNA ITS sequencing analyses. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Stachybotrys, and Chaetomium were the four dominant genera, to which the isolates belong. These results will be important to the further studies of diversity, genetics of cellulose-decomposing fungi in Gaoligongshan Mountain areas.