Seed endosymbiosis: A vital relationship in providing prenatal care to plants

Abstract

Global food security is a challenge, especially under changing climatic conditions. Recent advances in plant technology using plant-microbiome interactions promise an increased crop production. Indeed, all healthy plants or crop genotypes carry a beneficial microbiome, encompassing root-and seed-associated endosymbionts, providing mycotrophy and mycovitality to plants, respectively. Recent studies have found that mycovitality, or the endosymbiotic seed-fungus relationship and its key translational functions, bear tangible biotechnological benefits. Thus, this paper underlines the role of endophytes as early plant growth promoters under stressful environments. Notably, it explores the concept of plant prenatal care towards enhanced seed vigor, germination, and resilience, which results in an improved crop yield under stressful conditions. It presents an extensive research overview of endosymbiotic plant-fungi relationships with special focus on the wheat seed, an important source of staple food. Historical advances in terminology and scientific concepts on the subject are also presented to highlight the areas where further research is urgently needed.