Role of Bacterial Endophytes in Plant Disease Control

Abstract

Most of the plant diseases are generated by microorganisms dominated by fungi followed by bacteria and virus. Presently, the major method for controlling plant diseases is the application of agrochemicals. Nevertheless, this method causes toxic effect to the human beings and animals. An alternative for chemicals is the application of biology which includes application of bacterial endophytes in biocontrol of wide array of plant pathogens. Endophytic bacteria belongs to the class of endosymbiotic microorganisms, ubiquitous among plants that establish in between and within the spaces of all plant parts and not causing any plant disease. They create array of relationship include mutalism, cannibalistic, commensalistic and trophobiotic in nature. Most endophytes derive from soil around the plant roots or surface of the cuticle covering the leaf epidermis; although some may be obtained from the seed. Endophytic bacteria may play a major role in developing plant growth enhancement, phytoremediation, phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, modulation of plant metabolism and phytohormone signalling that lead to adaptation of environmental biotic/abiotic stress. There is an increased interest in the use of endophytes for their agricultural applications that promote plant growth under cold, drought or contaminated soil structure conditions or induce disease resistance in plants.