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Title: ISOLATION, IN PLANTA DETECTION, AND CULTURE OF ENDOPHYTIC BACTERIA AND FUNGI - CHAPTER FOR THE MANUAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, 2ND EDITION.

Author
item Bacon, Charles
item GLENN, ANTHONY - UGA/PLANT PATHOLOGY
item Hinton, Dorothy

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2001
Publication Date: 1/4/2002
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Endophytic bacteria and fungi are defined as those organisms that live inside the above ground portions of plants for most, if not all of their life cycles. These organisms are further distinguished in that they live within the aerial portions of plants as nonpathogens although slight to moderate degrees of pathogenicity may be expressed. Endophytic fungi and bacteria may confer benefits to the plant, and the benefits may be reciprocal, resulting in enhanced plant characteristics. Therefore, the use of endophytic bacteria and fungi opens up new areas of biotechnological exploitations such as increased drought tolerances, nitrogen efficiency, bio-herbicides, and for pharmacological agents. Techniques for examining, culturing and exploiting fungal endophytes are relatively new, and most of these have been developed by scientists in the Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit, RRC. Techniques for utilizing endophytic bacteria are even more recent than those designed for endophytic fungi. Scientists in the Unit were invited to review endophytic microorganisms, and outline procedures useful in establishing their presence, and metabolic activity. This review presents recent information on general isolation and cultivation procedures, and when available precautions are indicated for specific endophytic microorganisms while using a particular procedure.

Technical Abstract: No Abstract - Book Chapter. Invited Chapter for the MANUAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, 2ND Edition. American Society of Microbiology Publication, Washington, DC. Senior Editor, Guy Knudsen.