Fungal Endophyte-Host Plant Interactions: Role in Sustainable Agriculture
Tamanreet Kaur
Abstract
Fungal endophytes that live inside plant tissues without causing any apparent symptoms in the host plant are important components of plant micro-ecosystems. Endophytic fungi confer profound impacts on their host plants by enhancing their growth, increasing their fitness, strengthening their tolerances to pests and diseases. Moreover, fungal endophytes symbiotic with host plant produce a plethora of bioactive secondary metabolites that are expressed as defensive weapons to protect the host plant against various abiotic stresses. Currently, main focus in endophytic fungi research is associated with the ability of these microorganisms to produce and accumulate biologically active metabolites as these are potent source of novel natural products useful in agriculture sector.