<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Research concerning endophytic fungi has recently received a remarkable boost following a general trend to investigate and exploit biodiversity in all its forms, and because of the easier access to equipment and methods, which enables quicker identification procedures. The available data highlight that, besides the plant hosts, endophytes consistently interact with the other components of biocoenosis, and that the assortment of the microbial consortium is also to be considered on account of the reciprocal influence between the several species which are part of it. Unravelling these complex ecological relationships is fundamental because of possible translational applications, particularly regarding crop management. However, this requires that the available information concerning plant species, ecological contexts or functional categories of endophytes is examined fully. In this aim, a coordinated effort appears to be necessary to organise the current knowledge to increase the significance and the practical impact of new findings.</p>
</abstract>

Research concerning endophytic fungi has recently received a remarkable boost following a general trend to investigate and exploit biodiversity in all its forms, and because of the easier access to equipment and methods, which enables quicker identification procedures. The available data highlight that, besides the plant hosts, endophytes consistently interact with the other components of biocoenosis, and that the assortment of the microbial consortium is also to be considered on account of the reciprocal influence between the several species which are part of it. Unravelling these complex ecological relationships is fundamental because of possible translational applications, particularly regarding crop management. However, this requires that the available information concerning plant species, ecological contexts or functional categories of endophytes is examined fully. In this aim, a coordinated effort appears to be necessary to organise the current knowledge to increase the significance and the practical impact of new findings.

The need for a coordinated action to elucidate ecological occurrence and functions of endophytic fungal communities

Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions

Folia Horticulturae

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Research concerning endophytic fungi has recently received a remarkable boost following a general trend to investigate and exploit biodiversity in all its...

The need for a coordinated action to elucidate ecological occurrence and functions of endophytic fungal communities

Article Category: Review Article

Published Online: Mar 02, 2021

Page range: 1 - 7

Received: Dec 16, 2020

Accepted: Jan 15, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2021-0003

Keywords
crop protection, defensive mutualism, endophytes, plant fitness, plant microbiome

© 2021 Rosario Nicoletti et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The need for a coordinated action to elucidate ecological occurrence and functions of endophytic fungal communities

Article Category: Review Article

Published Online: Mar 02, 2021

Page range: 1 - 7

Received: Dec 16, 2020

Accepted: Jan 15, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2021-0003

Keywordscrop protection, defensive mutualism, endophytes, plant fitness, plant microbiome

© 2021 Rosario Nicoletti et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
crop protection, defensive mutualism, endophytes, plant fitness, plant microbiome