Exploring the potentialities of beneficial endophytes for improved plant growth

Abstract

Pathogen affects plant growth, host health and productivity. Endophytes, presumed to live inside the plant tissues, might be helpful in sustaining the future of agriculture. Although recent studies have proven that endophytes can be pathogenic, commensal, non-pathogenic, and/or beneficial, this review will focus on the beneficial category only. Beneficial endophytes produce a number of compounds which are useful for protecting plants from environmental conditions, enhancing plant growth and sustainability, while living conveniently inside the hosts. The population of endophytes is majorly controlled by location, and climatic conditions where the host plant grows. Often the most frequently isolated endophytes from the tissues of the plant are fungi, but sometimes greater numbers of bacteria are isolated. Beneficial endophytes stand a chance to replace the synthetic chemicals currently being used for plant growth promotion if carefully explored by researchers and embraced by policymakers. However, the roles of endophytes in plant growth improvement and their behavior in the host plant have not been fully understood. This review presents the current development of research into beneficial endophytes and their effect in improving plant growth.

Fungal Endophytes of Tahiti Lime (Citrus citrus × latifolia) and Their Potential for Control of Colletotrichum acutatum J. H. Simmonds Causing Anthracnose

“…The Simpson indices and evenness reported by those authors were also very similar to those in the present study. However, the difference between the richness of 15 morphospecies isolated in the present study compared with the 702 endophytes isolated by Sadeghi et al (2019) , suggests that in our case, the richness may have been limited by the breadth of sampling locations chosen, as well as the agricultural species selected, and the difficulty of isolating them from vegetal tissues ( Ikram et al, 2019 ; Fadiji and Babalola, 2020 ).…”

Model Application of Entomopathogenic Fungi as Alternatives to Chemical Pesticides: Prospects, Challenges, and Insights for Next-Generation Sustainable Agriculture

“…The overdependence on synthetic fertilizers for improving the growth of plants is another constraint faced by agriculturists. This is because the overreliance on these chemicals poses several side effects to users, non-target organisms, and the environment ( Skinner et al, 2014 ; Fadiji and Babalola, 2020b ).…”

A Comprehensive Analysis Using Colorimetry, Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Bioassays for the Assessment of Indole Related Compounds Produced by Endophytes of Selected Wheat Cultivars

“…One such group of microorganisms with a beneficial effect on plants are endophytes (bacteria and fungi colonizing the host plant throughout the entire or part of the life cycle without inducing signs of disease in plant tissues) [ 4 ]. Thanks to the symbiotic relationship, the endophyte gains access to freely accessible nutrients.…”