Endeitoma

Endeitoma is a term used in botany, specifically in the study of plant pathology and plant anatomy, to describe a specific type of fungal infection. It refers to a fungal disease that is located entirely within the tissues of the host plant. The fungus resides and develops solely within the plant’s internal structures, without producing any external signs or symptoms on the plant's surface, at least initially. This hidden nature makes endeitomas particularly challenging to detect and diagnose.

The term emphasizes the endophytic (internal) nature of the fungal colonization. Unlike epiphytes, which grow on the surface of plants, endeitomas are obligate or facultative endophytes that cause disease within the plant tissue. The extent of damage caused by an endeitoma can vary greatly. In some cases, the infection might be localized and cause minimal harm. In other instances, the fungus can spread throughout the plant, leading to significant physiological disruption and ultimately, plant death.

Identification of endeitomas often requires microscopic examination of plant tissues or the use of molecular techniques to detect the presence of fungal DNA. Specific symptoms, if they eventually appear, are often non-specific and can be easily mistaken for other plant diseases or environmental stresses.