Biology of Endophytic Fungi

Abstract

Endophytic fungi that are residing asymptomatically in internal tissues of all higher plants are of growing interest as promising sources of biologically active agents. This review focuses on the biology of endophytic fungi, their discovery, isolation, identification, and diversity and their biological activities in environmental and agricultural sustainability. It also considersand their medicinal applications especially in the production of anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral compounds. Endophytic fungi are one of the most creative groups of secondary metabolite producers that play important biological roles for human life. They are potential sources of novel natural agents for exploitation in the pharmaceutical industry, agriculture, and in environmental applications.