Piriformospora indica, a cultivable plant-growth-promoting root endophyte

Piriformospora indica (Hymenomycetes, Basidiomycota) is a newly described c ultivable endophyte that colonizes roots. Inoculation with the fungus and a pplication of fungal culture filtrate promotes plant growth and biomass pro duction. Due to its ease of culture, this fungus provides a model organism for the study of beneficial plant-microbe interactions and a new tool for i mproving plant production systems.