Agriculture is a complex network of interactions of plants with microorganisms. There is a growing demand for ecologically compatible, environment friendly technique in agriculture that might be able to provide adequate supply of nutrients for the increasing human populations through improvement of the quality and quantity of agricultural products. Under the changing climatic scenario of global fluxes of the key biogenic greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide), and some other environmental problems, the application of beneficial microorganisms in agriculture would serve as an important alternative gateway to some of the traditional agricultural techniques. Microorganisms of agricultural importance represent key ecological strategy for integrated management practices such as nutrient management, disease, and pest management in order to reduce the use of chemicals in agriculture as well to improve cultivar performance. The present review is intended to focus on the emergence of agriculturally important microorganisms to develop an ideal agricultural system through efficient utilization of nutrients and recycling of energy and thereby to preserve the natural ecosystem resources under climate change. The progress to date in using the beneficial microflora in a variety of applications related to agriculture along with key mechanism of action is also discussed in this review.

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The present investigation is a novel approach of exploring the endophytic fungal diversity of Elaeagnus latifolia L., an actinorhizal plant species of North-east India and evaluation of its biocontrol potential against Pestalotiopsis theae, the causal agent of grey blight disease in tea. A total of 17 endophytic fungal species belonging to 12 families and 03 orders were isolated from various parts of E. latifolia L. Isolates were identified based on colony morphology, spore and fruiting bodies using microscopical tools and techniques. Nigrospora sp. showed highest species density (0.5) among all the isolates. Isolation frequency was maximum (67%) in case of Fusarium sp., Nigrospora sp., Penicillium chrysogenum and Rhizopus sp. More fungal isolates were obtained from root and stem (47% each) as compared to leaves (29%). Species richness and diversity indices was maximum (15.0) in stem and minimum (9.0) in leaves. Highest Shannon and Simpson diversity index was in stem (2.02 and 0.860 respectively) followed by root (1.979 and 0.847 respectively) and least in leaves (1.494 and 0.75 respectively). Among the isolates tested for plant growth promoting parameters, EF09 (Fusarium sp.) showed positive response for all the tested parameters. The isolate, EF09 also showed maximum antifungal potential (up to 87.1%) against P. theae in poisoned food technique. Enumeration of endophytic fungal diversity of E. latifolia L. holds promises as the putative strains may lead to the isolation of novel bioactive components for use in industry, medicine and agriculture.

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