Chapter 9
Endophytic Fungi: A Remarkable Source
of Biologically Active Secondary
Metabolites
Pamoda B. Ratnaweera and E. Dilip de Silva
Abstract Endophytic fungi are ubiquitous in internal tissues of healthy plants and
are known to biosynthesis a remarkable array of secondary metabolites with diverse
chemical structures and assist host plants to overcome both abiotic and biotic stress
factors in their natural environment. Screening technologies have established these
natural products are an outstanding source of biologically active metabolites with
promising medicinal and agricultural applications. Selection of plants from distinct
environmental settings and/or with unconventional biology is expected to enhance
the chances of isolating novel fungal endophytes as well as new bioactive sec-
ondary metabolites. Using selected examples from different ecological niches, this
review illustrates the chemical potential of endophytic fungi for producing phar-
maceutically and agriculturally valuable products. The biosynthesis of the same
specific biologically active metabolites by the endopyte as well as the host plant and
the factors that influence the production of secondary metabolites by the endophyte
are also discussed. Finally, the current challenges in the production and commer-
cialization of bioactive compounds of endophytic fungal origin are debated.
Keywords BioactiveRainforestMangroveEcologicalMarineSedges
9.1 Endophytic Fungi
The evidence from fossil records indicates that endophyte-plant association may
have evolved from the period higher plantsfirst colonized land, thus played a long
and important role in driving the evolution of life on land (Zhang et al. 2006 ). Fungi
are a distinct group of heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms, wide spread in nature.
P.B. Ratnaweera
Department of Science and Technology, Uva Wellassa University, Badulla, Sri Lanka
e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
E.D. de Silva (&)
Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka
e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
©Springer International Publishing AG 2017
D.K. Maheshwari and K. Annapurna (eds.),Endophytes: Crop Productivity
and Protection, Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 16,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-66544-3_9
191