Main description:

Plant endophytes are a potential source for the production of bioactive compounds that can fight against devastating diseases in both plants and humans. Among these endophytic microorganisms, endophytic fungi are one of the dominant group of microorganisms with a potential role in plant growth promotion and the discovery of noble bioactive natural products. Endophytic fungi possess several bioactivities like anticancer, antimicrobial, insecticidal, plant growth stimulants, crop protection, phytoremediation, etc. Presence of modular biosynthetic genes clusters like PKS and NRPS in several endophytic fungi underscores the need to understand and explore such organisms. This volume presents and demonstrates the applied aspects of endophytic fungi. Practical applications of such endophytes are discussed in detail, including studies in pharmaceutical development and agricultural management of important microbial diseases. The beneficial effects that endophytic fungi provide to host plants-enhancing growth, increasing fitness, strengthening tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses through secondary metabolites-are also discussed. The reader is provided with a comprehensive and detailed understanding of such relationships between endophytic fungi and their host.

Contents:

PrefaceChapter 1Endophytic fungi associated with medicinal plants- a novel source for the discovery of natural productsDr. Bhim Pratap Singh, Department of Biotechnology, Mizoram University 796004, India
Chapter 2Role of endophytic fungi in agriculture: An overview and future prospectus Prof. Ravindra Nath Kharwar, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005 India
Chapter 3Endophytic fungi as a alternative source for the discovery of novel drugsDr. Rainer Ebel, Reader, Marine Biodiscovery Centre, Department of ChemistryUniversity of Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, Scotland, UK
Chapter 4Spectroscopic based methods of assessing microbial natural products from endophytic fungiDr. Mostafa Rateb, Lecturer in Chemistry, School of Science & sport, University of West of Scotland, UK.
Chapter 5Synthesis of nanoparticles from endophytic fungi and their application in agriculture and healthDr. S. Chandra Nayak, ICAR (AICRP- Mysore centre), Pearl millet pathology laboratoryDOS in Biotechnology, University of Mysore, Mysore, India
Chapter 6Biosynthetic potential of endophytic fungi with a focus on antimicrobial biosynthetic genesDr. S.Indira Devi, Scientist-C (Microbial Genomics and Proteomics), Microbial Resources Division, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Manipur, India.
Chapter 7Role of endophytic fungi in biofilm production as an alternative tool to control human pathogensDr Mukesh Kumar Yadav, Korea University, South Korea, Korea.
Chapter 8Plant growth promoting mechanisms of endophytic fungi associated with medicinal plantsDr Krishna Kumar, Head and Principal Scientist (Plant Pathology), ICAR-Indian Institute Pulses Research (IIPR), Uttar Pradesh, India
Chapter 9Antibiotics of endophytic fungal origin: an overview of research carried out in last three decadesProf. Dr. Wen-Jun Li, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
Chapter 10Endophytic fungi and their role in bioremediationDr. Surajit Das, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela- 769 008, Orissa, INDIA
Chapter 11Molecular methods used for the identification of endophytic fungiDr Ajit Kumar Passari, Aizawl, Mizoram University, Mizoram, India
Chapter 12Future prospects of endophytic fungal research in health and agricultureDr. P.Veera Bramha Chari, Head, Department of Biotechnology, KRISHNA UNIVERSITYMachilipatnam - 521 001- AP, India
Chapter 13Endophytic fungi as a source of lignocellulose degrading enzymes for industrial applicationProf Sivakumar Uthandi, Professor (Ag. Microbiology), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, INDIA
Appendix I: Media used in the recovery of endophytic fungi
Appendix II: Biosynthetic genes along with their amplification conditions
Index