Endophytes in Southeast Asia and Japan: Their Taxonomic Diversity and Potential Applications

Researchers isolated endophytes from 402 plants in Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia, identifying 1133 fungal and 678 bacterial strains. These endophytes were found to produce useful extracellular enzymes and bioactive substances, with 10-30% showing antifungal or antibacterial activities. Some fungal strains inhibited testosterone-5-α-reductase or promoted mouse hair follicle cell proliferation in vitro. The study highlighted endophytes as potential sources of valuable metabolites, such as oligosaccharides, antibiotics, and enzymes, and revealed diverse genera through phylogenetic analyses. Specific symbiotic relationships were noted, such as those with Ulmus davidiana var. japonica.