Cannabis endophytes and their application in breeding and physiological fitness

Abstract

Plant-associated endophytes live in mutualistic association with their hosts wherein a plethora of physiological, chemical, and molecular interactions are responsible maintaining their association. In this chapter, we explore the multifaceted potential of endophytes harbored in Cannabis sativa L. plants in interacting not only with the host plants, but also with invading pathogens and associated endophytic microflora, resulting in diverse functional traits. These traits range from production of bioactive natural products, attenuation of virulence factors of invading phytopathogens, to providing host plant fitness and maintaining ecological interactions. We further elaborate the ecological relevance of endophytes harbored in the liverwort, Radula marginata that produces secondary metabolites structurally similar to those found in Cannabis plants. Until now, research on endophytic microflora of C. Sativa prospected from different ecosystems has yielded interesting fundamental insights into plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions, which have direct or indirect biotechnological implications. Therefore, we discuss the possible benefits of using Cannabis and Radula endophytes in the pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors, and the biotechnological approaches required to commercialize selected endophytes.