Endofiti fungini presenti in strutture riproduttive di Quercus robur

Forest decline, particularly for Quercus genus, is a well known phenomenon, spread in Europe as well as in the all world and with a complex aetiology, that involve interactions between host plant and several abiotic and biotic causes (i.e. tree genetic characteristics, environmental and climatic changes) Furthermore it has been hypothesized that some endophytic fungi can accelerate the decline of oaks, when trees are subjected to stress. In fact these fungi can become pathogenic, inflicting damage on trees, while often they produce no symptoms for most of their life cycle. The aim of the present study is to provide information concerning the fungal population present in the Q. robur acorns, considering all their growth phases, the influence of other soil fungi and the presence of external and internal seed-borne fungi.