Endophytic Fungi & Plant Health
The fungi living inside healthy plant tissues and their effects on stress tolerance, pest resistance and crop performance.
Programme identification
- 1.1Programme name
- Endophytic Fungi & Plant Health
- 1.2Type of qualification
- Course
- 1.3Provider / endorsing institution
- Fungaris – International Institute of Mycology, School of Fungal Ecology & Regenerative Agriculture. A Fungaris programme of its own, not endorsed by a university.
- 1.4Mode of study
- Online, with live sessions in a small group, recordings and a virtual campus.
- 1.5Duration (hours / ECTS credits)
- 3 months (12 weeks) · 72 hours in total · 6 modules of 12 hours · 12 live sessions of 2 hours. ECTS credits: not applicable (Fungaris own programme, not an official university degree).
- 1.6Language
- English
- 1.7Start and end dates / intake
- Next intake: 11 January 2027 to 2 April 2027. Enrolment closes on 4 January 2027. Following intake: 8 March 2027. How intakes work →
Overview
2.1Programme description
Almost every healthy plant studied so far carries fungi living inside its leaves, stems or roots without causing disease. This course explores these endophytes: what they are, how they are transmitted and what they do for their hosts. It begins with the well-studied grass endophytes, whose alkaloids protect pastures from insects but can affect grazing livestock, then moves to endophytes that improve tolerance to drought, heat or salinity and those that help plants resist pests and pathogens.
Endophytes are attracting attention from seed companies and bio-input developers looking for new ways to improve crop resilience. The course suits plant scientists, agronomists and researchers who want to understand both the opportunities and the open questions. A practical module covers isolating endophytes from surface-sterilised tissue, culturing them and characterising them by morphology and DNA. The final module reviews products already on the market and how to evaluate them. In the final project, students design a screening study to isolate and test endophytes from a chosen crop or wild relative for a defined benefit.
2.2Why it matters / what need it meets
It meets a practical need: applied, up-to-date knowledge in ecology, useful in areas such as seed and bio-input industry, agricultural research, pasture and livestock farming, plant health laboratories.
Mycology is moving fast and good practical training is still scarce. This programme gives you a structured path, taught live by people who work in the field, so you can apply what you learn with judgement and safety.
Objectives and competences
3.1General objective
To finish the programme able to apply its content professionally and with judgement. In short:
The fungi living inside healthy plant tissues and their effects on stress tolerance, pest resistance and crop performance.
3.2Specific objectives
- Build the foundations: What Endophytes Are; Grass Endophytes and Livestock Interactions.
- Put them into practice: Endophytes and Abiotic Stress Tolerance; Endophytes against Pests and Pathogens.
- Apply everything to a real case: Isolating and Characterising Endophytes; Endophyte-based Products for Agriculture.
- Complete a final project reviewed by your tutor.
3.3Competences you will gain
- Define endophytes and describe their modes of transmission.
- Explain the benefits and livestock risks of grass endophytes.
- Describe mechanisms by which endophytes improve stress tolerance.
- Isolate and culture endophytes from surface-sterilised plant tissue.
- Evaluate commercial endophyte products against published evidence.
Student profile
4.1Who it is for (entry profile)
Plant scientists, agronomists and researchers.
4.2Entry requirements
Basic plant biology is recommended. Laboratory exercises can be followed through demonstrations if students lack lab access.
4.3Career paths (exit profile)
- Research assistant in plant-microbe interactions
- R&D technician at a seed or bio-input company
- Agronomist advising on biological seed treatments
- Pasture and forage specialist
- Laboratory technician in plant pathology
Outcomes depend on your experience and on your local market.
Study plan
5.1Overall structure (modules and workload)
| Module | Title | Phase | Topics | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | What Endophytes Are | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 02 | Grass Endophytes and Livestock Interactions | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 03 | Endophytes and Abiotic Stress Tolerance | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 04 | Endophytes against Pests and Pathogens | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 05 | Isolating and Characterising Endophytes | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| 06 | Endophyte-based Products for Agriculture | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 72 |
6 modules × 12 hours = 72 hours: 24 hours of live sessions, and the rest for campus study, exercises and the final project.
5.2Content by module
Hover or tap a module to follow the path from the first session to the final project. Open a module to see the topics it covers.
- Defining endophytes
- Horizontal and vertical transmission
- The spectrum from mutualist to latent pathogen
- Epichloe endophytes in grasses
- Alkaloids and insect deterrence
- Livestock health and novel endophytes
- Drought and heat tolerance
- Salinity and nutrient stress
- Mechanisms of stress protection
- Protection against insect herbivores
- Antagonism towards pathogens
- Induced systemic resistance
- Surface sterilisation and isolation
- Culturing and morphological grouping
- DNA identification of isolates
- Commercial endophyte products
- Seed treatments and delivery
- Evaluating efficacy claims
5.3Company placement
This programme does not include a company placement. Practice is built into every module through exercises, case studies and the final project.
5.4Final project
A screening study design to isolate and test endophytes from a chosen plant for a defined benefit.
Methodology
6.1How it is taught
- Live online sessions, usually weekly, with a working professional and a small group.
- Recordings of every session, so you can catch up if work or time zones get in the way.
- Exercises and real case studies in every module.
- Tutoring: your tutor answers questions and gives feedback on your exercises and project.
6.2Platform and resources
A Moodle virtual campus with session recordings, readings, exercises and forums for each module. You need a computer, an up-to-date browser and a stable connection; a webcam and microphone are recommended.
Technical requirements →6.3Estimated weekly workload
About 6 hours a week for 12 weeks: one 2-hour live session on a weekday evening, plus study and exercises on the campus at your own pace.
Assessment
7.1Assessment system and weighting
Students are assessed on participation in live sessions, module exercises including protocol writing and a final study design reviewed by the tutor.
7.2Requirements to pass
- Complete every module, by attending the live sessions or watching the recordings.
- Hand in the module exercises.
- Have your final project approved by your tutor.
Teaching team
8.1Academic direction
At Fungaris, the Ecology school coordinates the content and quality of this programme. The academic director of each intake is named in the intake guide.
8.2Faculty
Taught by professionals who work in the field. The tutor for each intake is confirmed before the start.
Meet our faculty →Certificate
9.1Certificate awarded
Course Certificate
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Fungaris certificates are the institute's own. Whether an employer, school or authority recognises them depends on that organisation and on local rules in each country.
9.2Issuing body / recognition
Issued by Fungaris (operated by Nexora Generation, S.L.) as a digital certificate. It is a Fungaris certificate of its own: it is not an official university degree and does not award ECTS credits.
About our certificates →Admission and enrolment
10.1Admission process (steps)
- Send your request through the form or write to admissions.
- Admissions reviews your profile and confirms the start date, the session schedule and the fee.
- You secure your place with full payment or a 40% reservation.
- You receive your campus access and welcome guide before the first session.
10.2Documents required
- A valid identity document.
- Contact and billing details (personal or company).
10.3Deadlines
Enrolment for the intake starting on 11 January 2027 is open until 4 January 2027, or until the group is full (maximum 20 students).
10.4Fee and payment options
Fee: £340
- Full payment before the start: £272 (20% reduction).
- 40% reservation (£136) and 3 monthly instalments of £68.
10.5Grants, discounts and funding
Discounts: 10% for Fungaris alumni and 15% for groups of three or more people from the same organisation. Discounts cannot be combined with each other or with the full-payment reduction.
Your employer can pay for the programme and receive the invoice in the company name. Whether a public or employer training budget can cover the fee depends on your country, so check with them.
10.6Cancellation policy
The conditions for cancelling, withdrawing or moving to a later intake are explained in our cancellation policy and in your enrolment confirmation. Nothing there limits your rights under the consumer law that applies to you.
Cancellation and refunds →Additional information
11.1Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to study Endophytic Fungi & Plant Health?
Basic plant biology is recommended. Laboratory exercises can be followed through demonstrations if students lack lab access.
How is Endophytic Fungi & Plant Health taught?
Live online, in 6 modules with a working professional, a small group and a final project.
How am I assessed?
Students are assessed on participation in live sessions, module exercises including protocol writing and a final study design reviewed by the tutor.
What is the final project?
A screening study design to isolate and test endophytes from a chosen plant for a defined benefit.
What certificate do I get?
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Fungaris certificates are the institute's own. Whether an employer, school or authority recognises them depends on that organisation and on local rules in each country.
What can I study after Endophytic Fungi & Plant Health?
The natural next step is Diploma in Mycorrhizal Agriculture.
11.2Alumni testimonials
We only publish verified testimonials from real students. This programme does not have any published yet; they will appear here once its first intakes finish.
11.3Admissions contact
Write to info@fungaris.institute or use the contact form. Admissions answers in your language.
Read before you start.
Keep branching.
From our species guide.
Join the next intake.
Pay in full with a 20% reduction, or reserve your place with 40% and pay the rest in monthly instalments. All prices are stated in pounds sterling (GBP).