Potential of fungal endophytes in plant growth and disease management

Abstract

The historical background, various investigations, successful results and projected mode of activity for overall plant development and disease management conferred by fungal endophytes to their host plants have been elaboratively discussed. Piriformospora indica, a root endophyte, is the well-described plant promoter in literature. 2H-Pyran-2-one, 5,6-dihydro-6-pentyl, an antifungal metabolite with high activity towards S. Sclerotiorum, was produced by endophytic Macrophomina phaseolina, while solanapyrone derivatives C and phoma- lactone produced by Nigrospora sp. YB-141 showed inhibition against plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. The present chapter summarises various findings on fungal endophytes and their functional attributes with respect to enhancement in overall plant maturity and improvement recovered from indigenous plant of medicinal value Ocimum sanctum found widely in India till date.