What Do We Know About Fungal Endophyte Diversity in a Mega Diverse Country? An Appeal for Increased Conservation and Research

Abstract

Research on endophytic fungi has increased considerably in the last 10 years, and the importance of understanding their biology, ecology, and chemical composition has become a priority. Ecuador’s geography, which ranges from seacoast, to arid mountains, to Amazonian jungle, provides a unique diversity of ecosystems that contain high and unexplored biological diversity. Moreover, the exploration of such unique habitats has been shown to be an effective strategy for the discovery of novel molecules. This chapter intends to provide insights into the diversity and richness of fungal endophytes in a biodiversity hot spot as well as into novel molecules isolated up to date.