XVI International Botanical Congess

Among the most common of the plant-microbe interactions, are endophytic infections of the host by fungi. How these ubiquitous symbionts affect the ecology and susceptibility of the host to pests and pathogens is enigmatic. Studies in Arizona showed that endophytes affected insect (leafminer) mortality by causing density dependant premature abscission, whereas, endophytes suffered almost 100% mortality when ingested by insects. Recent studies in South Africa have examined differences between isolates from completely healthy tree tissue and morphologically indistinguishable isolates from diseased tissue. Isolates were not distinguishable on the basis of molecular studies (ITS & presence of ds RNA), but could be separated based on other characteristics (e.g., pathology).