Plant-fungi association: Role of fungal endophytes in improving plant tolerance to water stress

Abstract

Plants are constantly being challenged with various biotic and abiotic stresses throughout their life cycle that exert profound deleterious effects on growth, development and health. Plants employ various physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms to combat these stress factors. Microorganism-mediated plant stress tolerance, particularly plant drought tolerance, is important in the study of plant-microbe interactions. Although relatively less well-known, fungal endophyte-mediated plant drought tolerance has been described for several cases. Unlike mycorrhizal fungi, non-mycorrhizal fungi may mediate the effects of water stress by adjusting, regulating or modifying plant physiological, biochemical and metabolic activities. We review the evidence for fungal endophyte- mediated plant drought tolerance and mechanisms.