Biodiversity of endophytic fungi Pestalotiopsis

Pestalotiopsis species is an important group of endophytic fungi. Endophytic Pestalotiopsis distributed in roots, stems, leaves and reproductive parts of its host plants. Twenty-three endophytic Pestalotiopsis species have been identified. The colonization rates of endophytic Pestalotiopsis in observed plants were greatly different. Endophytic Pestalotiopsis was a dominant group in the tissues of Rhizophora apiculata, Cocos nucifer, Taxus yunnanensis, Camellia sasanqua, Fragraea bodenii and Cordemoya integrifolia. Most of endophytic Pestalotiopsis colonized more than one host plant, however, a few of them colonized only one. The distributions of endophytic Pestalotiopsis are related to ecological and environmental conditions and location of host plants. Some endophytic Pestalotiopsis act either as parasites or as saprophytes due to the different stage of host plants and (or) environmental conditions. Endophytic Pestalotiopsis produced a variety of secondary metabolites including antitumor components (taxol and torreyanic acid), antifungal and antibacterial components (cyclohexenone, torreyanic acid and pestaloside) showing a bright future of application.