Endophytic Fungi Are Multifunctional Biosynthesizers 47antibacterial activities. Further, isolates of endophytes such as
Cryptosporiopsis species, Abies Alba and Pleurophomopsis species showed to
have antibiotic activity. From several deciduous and coniferous tree hosts, the
investigators isolated strains of the endophytic Pezicula species that found to
produce many bioactive secondary metabolites in culture media (Schulz et al.,
1995). On the other hand, endophytic species from Xylariaceae thought to
produce several compounds with high biological activity such as indole
diterpenes and cytochalasins (Hensens et al., 1999). However, there is a wide
variety of toxins produce by endophytic fungi which are difficult to be
detected in plant host tissue.
No grass endophytes produce insecticidal compounds (Hensens et al.,
1999) as well as antibacterial substances and antifungal (Peláez et al., 2000). It
is not clear whether the metabolites are produced in the plant during the period
of clam infection of endophytes in host plant or when endophytes produce a
perfect amount of metabolites that is important to the host in protective
mutualism.
One endophyte can infect a wide host range. Besides, several scientists
showed that, the same strain isolated from different parts of the same host
differs in its ability to utilize different substance. Rainforests and tropical
regions are the most important as diverse terrestrial ecosystems on earth. It is
cover about 1.44% of the land surface. Therefore, we could expect that, high
plant endemicity contain specific endophytes. Finally, biological variety
means chemical variety due to constant chemical renewal that present in the
ecosystems where the development race to survive is the most active. A
wonderful example of this type of environment is tropical rainforests.
Selection is at its peak, resources are limited and competition is great. This
motivates a lot of scientist to conclude that the rainforests are a high source of
new biologically active compound and molecular structures (Redell and
Gordon, 2000).
5. CLASSIFICATION OF ENDOPHYTES
Endophytic fungi have a great effect on the plant fitness, ecology and
evolution. Various groups of these microorganisms are able to produce
number of bioactive agents (Brundrett et al., 2006). In the past, endophytic
fungi were classified into two groups: - Clavicipitaceous and non-
Clavicipitaceous according to their taxonomy, evolution, ecological function
and host specificity. After that, Rodriguez et al., 2009 illustrated that, there are