Editorial comment–volume 60 of Fungal diversity Special issue dedicated to the COST Action FA1103,“Endophytes in Biotechnology and Agriculture”

Summary:The European Cooperation in Science and Technology(COST)aims to promote joint interdisciplinary research in various areas and provides substantial funding to international consortia to conduct networking activities such as workshops,training schools,and short time international student exchanges.Even though primarily European Scientists are eligible to propose COST Actions and to receive funding,the international community can and does participate.This special issue is dedicated to a COST Action FA1103 on biotechnological and agricultural exploitation of endophytes,entertained by 150 scientists from over 20 countries.Eleven original papers,one review and two non COST Action papers have been compiled,all of which are dealing with various aspects of fundamental and applied research on fungal endophytes.The broad spectrum of the contributions,which are representative of the scientific scope of the Action,is illustrated by reports on innovative methods for all taxa inventories(molecular ecology),studies relating to bioprospecting.