Endophytic probiotics and plant health: Toward a balanced accost

Abstract

The endophytic probiotic microorganisms have been reported to be found in virtually each plant studied, where endophytes colonize the internal tissues of the host plant and they might form a variety of dissimilar and distinct associations that include but not limited to interdependency, positive and neutral cooperative, mutualistic, commensalistic, and also trophobiotic. Most of the endophytic microbiomes appear to originate either from the plant rhizosphere or the phyllosphere. However, some of the endophytes may also be transmitted through the seed. Probable endophytic microbes can enhance and accelerate the plant growth and production and, moreover, can also act as potential biocontrol agents. There are numerous potential fungal and bacterial endophytes that make indispensable secondary metabolites such as phytohormones, siderophores, volatile organic compounds, HCN production that support the development and progression of the host plant. Certain compounds produced by endophytes act as antibiotics which have possible antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. These compounds intensely restrain the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, including the probable plant pathogens. On the other hand, these probable endophytic microbes can also be precious to human beings by producing a variety of natural products that could be utilized for the possible employment in medication, agronomy, or commerce. Additionally, it has been shown that endophytes too have the potential to eliminate the soil contaminants by enhancing bioremediation and phytoremediation process and, therefore, may play a remarkable role in soil fertility augmentation through notable and striking valuable processes such as biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, metal chelation, and potassium mobilization. There is a growing and vested interest in development of biotechnological applications of probable endophytic microbes for improving crop production, phytoremediation, and sustainable production of food crops for biomass as well as biofuel production, which is a feasible and practical step toward the sustainable form of agriculture.