Fungal Endophytes of Vitis vinifera—Plant Growth Promotion Factors

Abstract

Endophytes are microorganisms that live asymptomatically inside plant tissues. They are beneficial to their host in many aspects, especially as a defense against foreign phytopathogens through the production of a variety of metabolites. These substances can serve as sources of new natural products for medicinal, agricultural, and industrial purposes. This article is focused on endophytic fungi from Vitis vinifera. The purpose of the research was their isolation and identification during the Vitis vinifera growing season. Subsequently, the isolates were tested for the production of biotechnologically interesting metabolites (siderophores, antioxidants, and antifungal compounds). In total, 24 endophytic fungi were isolated, the most represented genus was Cladosporium sp. The results of the test for antioxidant and antifungal properties, as well as siderophore production, have shown that the population of Vitis vinifera endophytic microscopic fungi could serve as a promising source of metabolites with a wide range of applications.