In: Endophytic Fungi ISBN: 978- 1 - 53610 - 341 - 0
Editor: Evelyn Hughes © 201 7 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Chapter 2
ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ARE
MULTIFUNCTIONAL BIOSYNTHESIZERS:
ECOLOGICAL ROLE
AND CHEMICAL DIVERSITY
Khaled A. Selim1,*, Mohamed M. S. Nagia^2
and Dina E. El. Ghwas^3
(^1) Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine,
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingn, Tübingn, Germany
(^2) Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology,
Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
(^3) Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Products Department,
Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Division,
National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
ABSTRACT
Symbiosis is a widespread phenomenon in nature. Endophytes are
defined as all microorganisms that colonize asymptomatically within
living healthy tissues. In general, endophytes are considered as
commensalistic symbionts, where they receive nutrients and shelter from
the host. In return, they are thought to provide the host with chemical- Corresponding Author address: Email: [email protected].