Fungal Endophytes of Tree Leaves

The term epiphyte is used in general to characterize organisms that subsist only on plant surfaces. De Bar’s (1866) definition of endophytes—all the organisms that colonize internal plant tissues—was also used by Petrini (1986). In the same volume, Carroll (1986) restricted the use of the term endophyte to organisms that cause asymptomatic infections within plant tissues, excluding pathogenic fungi and mutualists such as mycorrhizal fungi. In view of the additional findings discussed in this chapter, however, I feel that this definition is no longer tenable. I propose, therefore, that Carroll’s definition be expanded to include all organisms inhabiting plant organs that at some time in their life, can colonize internal plant tissues without causing apparent harm to their host. This would account for those endophytic organisms that have a more or less lengthy epiphytic phase and also for latent pathogens that may live symptomless in their hosts for some time in their life.KeywordsEndophytic FungusFungal EndophyteSimulated Acid RainMycological ResearchCladosporium CladosporioidesThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.