In this study, the biological and chemical diversity of 8 symbiotic marine fungal strains, with strong cytotoxicity against brine shrimp larvae, were investigated by nucleotide sequencing, morphology and cluster analysis of HPTLC fingerprint. These strains were identified by ITS rDNA sequencing, phylogenic analysis, and morphology to be Hypocrea lixii, Chaetomium globosum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Asp. clavatus and Alternaria sp. Their differences in secondary metabolites were shown by cluster analysis of digitalized colors of HPTLC spots, a newly developed method, which produced a similar dendrogram with that of ITS cluster analysis. Furthermore, this method can fully display intraspecific differences and even the remarkable difference in Aspergillus strains which goes beyond the boundary between genera. Their biological-chemical diversity may be the basis of their potent cytotoxicity and implies their potential in producing diversified antitumor or pesticidal constituents.
