*2.4. Berberis*

The genus *Berberis* (Berberidaceae) comprises almost 500 species of deciduous or evergreen shrubs, which occur in the temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America [67]. This genus has remarkable pharmacological properties [68]. Berberine and Berbamine are the main compounds produced by these plants, together with alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, sterols, and triterpenes [69].

Numerous endophytic fungi belonging to 19 genera have been isolated from tissues of *Berberis* from India, China, Kenya, and the USA (Table 5). Isolated fungi included different species of *Fusarium* (4 isolates) and *Colletotrichum* (4 isolates), followed by *Alternaria* (4 isolates), *Anguillospora* (1 isolate), *Phomopsis* (1 isolate), *Campylospora* (1 isolate), *Cercospora* (1 isolate), *Clonostachys* (1 isolate), *Heliscus* (1 isolate), *Diaporthe* (2 isolates)*, Microsphaeropsis* (1 isolate), *Phyllosticta* (1 isolate), *Paraphalosphaera* (1 isolate), *Prathoda* (1 isolate), *Bacillispora* (1 isolate), *Neocosmospora* (1 isolate), *Aspergillus* (1 isolate), *Myrothecium* (1 isolate), and *Puccinia* (1 isolate).


**Table 5.** Endophytic fungi isolated from *Berberis* species.

#### *2.5. Caesalpinia*

The genus *Caesalpinia* (Fabaceae) includes approximately 200 species, mainly arboreal and shrubby species, distributed in seasonally dry tropical forests, as well as in tropical and warm temperate savannas, tropical wet forests, and tropical coastal habitats [75]. Several classes of compounds, mainly flavonoids, diterpenes, and steroids, have been isolated from *Caesalpinia* species, which have shown various medicinal properties [75]. The most common species cultivated as ornamental plants are *C. pulcherrima* and *C. echinata*.

A total of 44 fungal endophytes were isolated from leaves, stems, and bark of plants collected from India, Brazil, and Indonesia (Table 6). Fungal genera associated with different species of *Caesalpinia* were: *Aspergillus* (10 isolates), followed by *Trichoderma (*6 isolates) and *Fusarium* (4 isolates). Other isolated endophytes have been identified as *Penicillum* (3 isolates), *Curvularia* (2 isolates), *Nectria* (2 isolates), *Bipolaris* (2 isolates), *Xylaria* (2 isolates), and one isolate for the genera *Alternaria*, *Chrysosporium*, *Cladosporium*, *Colletotrichum*, *Epicoccum*, *Geotrichum*, *Helminthosporium*, *Lasiodiplodia*, *Talaromyces*, *Scopulariopsis,* and *Phyllosticta,* respectively.


**Table 6.** Endophytic fungi isolated from *Caesalpinia* species.
