This research explored the diverse community of beneficial fungi living inside cotton plants across Texas. These fungi, called endophytes, can potentially help protect plants from pests and diseases naturally. The study found that different types of fungi are present at different times of the growing season and in different plant parts, but the specific fungi present varied by location. This knowledge could lead to more sustainable farming practices. Impacts on everyday life: • Could reduce the need for chemical pesticides in cotton farming • May lead to more environmentally-friendly crop protection methods • Could help make cotton farming more sustainable and cost-effective • Provides natural alternatives for pest control in agriculture • Could improve cotton crop yields while reducing chemical inputs