Dr James A Wearn

Dr Amanda Currie and I are investigating the diversity and interactions of the fungal endophyte communities within several model host plants. Our research, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the University of London, is trying to unveil endophytic diversity and behaviour. Are there a few or many species within a particular host plant? Do different species inhabit different hosts or are they all ubiquitous? How are they transmitted? What is their impact ecologically? With direct links with the foremost international fungal collection at CABI Bioscience and renowned mycologists our findings to date have been intriguing!

Endophytes are fungi which colonize a plant internally. The term can be used to cover fungi which fall somewhere in a broad spectrum of outcomes within their host, from mutualist to parasite to latent pathogen. The host-fungus interaction is complex - and this is only part of the system as no plant is in isolation from its surroundings!

We have been amazed by the diversity of fungi living within a single species of host plant with around 60 taxonomically varied fungi isolated from the thistle Cirsium arvense alone. We have an ever-increasing database of isolation records compile from years of field samples and manipulative experiments. Some of the species isolated have been first-time recordings in Britain or within live tissues. Furthermore, some of the species have potential applications in biocontrol.

For further information on our research interests please e-mail me (j.a.wearn@rhul.ac.uk).