PREFACE
Endophytic fungi are important biotechnological tools because they
produce many secondary metabolites. However, to access this important
source of bioactive molecules, it is essential to explore the diversity of
endophytic fungi and catalog their species richness in different ecosystems.
This book reviews the diversity, characterization and biocontrol of endophytic
fungi.
Chapter 1 – Introduction: Researches on endophytic fungi have proven
they are a promising source of biocontrol agents. These organisms are present
in the internal healthy plant tissues during a part or/all of their life cycle
without causing apparent harm to their hosts. They influence greatly the
physiological activities of their host plants. Fungal endophytes enhance their
host resistance against abiotic stress, disease, insects and mammalian
herbivores by producing a broad range of fungal metabolites. Indeed several
interesting metabolites isolated from endophytic fungi belong to diverse
chemical classes, including: alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids,
quinones and phenols. Since the isolation of paclitaxel in 1993 from an
endophytic fungus of Pacific Yew, fungal endophytes took a consider attention
as alternative source of active compounds produced by their host plants,
however they could be an alternative source of novel natural products for
exploitation in modern medicine, agriculture and industry. Conclusion: The
chapter sets out to present general overview of endophytic fungi and focus on
their occurrence, classification, functions and several classes of their
secondary metabolites. Finally examples are given concerning natural products
isolated from fungal endophytes with potent biological activity.
Chapter 2 – Symbiosis is a widespread phenomenon in nature. Endophytes
are defined as all microorganisms that colonize asymptomatically within living