Ricerc@Sapienza

Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae), commonly known as St. John's wort, is a plant of medicinal interest. Indeed, Hypericum perforatum produce metabolites with antidepressant, antifungal and antibacterial activities.
Endophytic fungi play a very important role in affecting the quality and quantity of metabolites produced by the medicinal plants through a specific fungus-host interaction. In addition, endophytic fungi increase the adaptability of their host plants and, through the production of bioactive compounds, can increase plant growth and plant tolerances to biotic and abiotic stresses such as pathogens, herbivores,
and environmental changes.
The aim of this proposal is to analyse, through molecular biology techniques, the presence and diversity of Hypericum perforatum fungal endophytes in order to acquire knowledge on the composition of the fungal endophytic community in our climate and
geographical region.
Analysis of Hypericum perforatum fungal endophytes will be aimed to evaluate:
- the difference in endophytic fungal community between plants cultivated in agricultural fields and spontaneous plants.
- the difference in fungal diversity among the different plant organs
-the overlap between the endophytic fungal community present in the organs of the plant and the fungal community present in the adjacent soil