Endophytes: Potential agents for sustainable agriculture practices

Changing climate and increasing chemical applications as fertilizers and pesticides affecting the growth patterns of crops, soil health, and pest resistance. Excess chemicals in plants not only affect the nutrient quality but also affect the microbial flora of plants and their surroundings. Microbes reside inside the plants increase the plant growth by producing various secondary metabolites known as endophytes. Endophytes play a significant role in plant protection and plant tolerance against various abiotic and biotic stresses. Endophytes support the plant growth by helping in habitat adaptation and disease management. Endophytic bacteria and fungi reside in the plant and induce the plant defense system under adverse condition to combat negative impacts on plant growth. These microorganisms modulate the plant physiology and induce stress related phyto-hormones under abiotic and biotic stress condition to overcome detrimental condition. Various endophytic bioactive compounds and endophytes have been explored as sustainable agents for agricultural practices. In the current chapter, we discussed about role of endophytes in plant growth and plant disease management. The mechanism of endophytes in plant growth and protection also reviewed. The application of endophytes as biocontrol agents and their mechanism in disease control and commercial utilization of such biocontrol agents also discussed in the current chapter.