Why study endophytic fungal community associated with cacti species?

Abstract

Dry environments have plants with special adaptations which enable them to live on nutrient-poor soils, in high temperatures, and with a scarcity of water. One of the most important features is the ability to establish symbiosis with different microorganisms. Studies on the diversity of endophytic fungi from dry environments are recent and scarce. The endophytic community (fungi and bacteria) of cacti has been studied in Australia, the United States, Brazil, and Mexico, revealing special features in their composition. Bioprospecting studies on these organisms are just as scarce as the ecological studies, but have shown promising results. In the United States and Brazil, endophytes isolated from cacti were selected for the production of enzymes, antimicrobials, and anticancer substances. The purpose of this chapter is to review the literature on this subject, highlight the benefits of endophytic fungi species for plants on dry environments (mainly the Cactaceae family), and to emphasize the usefulness of endophytes in biotechnological processes.