What is an Endophyte?
An endophyte is a fungus which grows inside a plant. The endophytes that we are most concerned with are the ones growing inside a turfgrass plant. These endophytes, unlike disease causing fungi, do not cause any harm to the turfgrass plant. Currently, endophytes have been found in tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, hard fescue, chewing fescue and creeping red fescue. There are no known endophytes occurring in Kentucky bluegrass or creeping bent grass. Endophytes are found in all parts of the plant except the roots with the highest concentration found in the leaf sheath