Plant–Endophyte Interactions: A Driving Phenomenon for Boosting Plant Health under Climate Change Conditions

Abstract

The endosymbiotic and ubiquitous group of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and archaea that dwell inside host plant tissues without causing any harm to the plant, are termed endophytes. Over the past few decades, these microorganisms have been widely used in sustainable agriculture as biofertilizers, biocontrols, or inducers of abiotic stress tolerance. The effective colonization of the host plant by the endophyte is a necessary step in order to start these advantageous plant–microbe interactions that are engaged in boosting plant growth. Although plants naturally possess the ability to recognize potentially invasive microorganisms and launch defense mechanisms against them, these defense responses are alternatively modulated by the inoculation of beneficial endophytes, as well as pathogenic microorganisms. Furthermore, the rapidly evolving climate change conditions due to global warming and its accompanying anomalies pressurize the plant adaptation systems. Fortunately, beneficial endophytic microorganisms with potential in abiotic stress tolerance have been identified and thus can be a driving phenomenon in improving plant health under these climatic stress conditions.