A Renaissance in Plant Growth- Promoting and Biocontrol Agents by Endophytes

Abstract

Endophytes are the microorganisms which colonize the internal tissue of host plants without causing any damage to the colonized plant. The benefi - cial role of endophytic organisms has dramatically documented worldwide in recent years. Endophytes promote plant growth and yield, remove contaminants from soil, and provide soil nutrients via phosphate solubilization/ nitrogen fi xation. The capacity of endophytes on abundant production of bioactive compounds against array of phytopathogens makes them a suitable platform for biocontrol explorations. Endophytes have unique interaction with their host plants and play an important role in induced systemic resistance or biological control of phytopathogens. This trait also benefi ts in promoting plant growth either directly or indirectly. Plant growth promotion and biocontrol are the two sturdy areas for sustainable agriculture where endophytes are the key players with their broad range of benefi cial activities. The coexistence of endophytes and plants has been exploited recently in both of these arenas which are explored in this chapter.