Community structure and preference of endophytic fungi of three woody plants in a mixed forest

► The community composition of endophytic fungi associated with Betula platyphylla (Betulaceae), Quercus liaotungensis (Fagaceae) and Ulmus macrocarpa (Ulmaceae) was investigated. ► The three host species had similar overall endophyte infection rates, although the host showed 30.1% variance in endophyte community composition by redundancy analysis. ► The overall infection rates and species richness of endophyte harboured were higher in twigs than in leaves, and tissue showed 15.1% variance in endophyte community composition by redundancy analysis. ► Some common endophyte taxa showed significant host/tissue preference by Fisher's exact test. ► Results suggest that host and tissue conspicuously affect endophyte community structure in a mixed temperate forest.