How can Endophytic Bacteria Benefit Agronomically Important Plants by Protecting Against Pathogens?

Abstract

The use of endophytic bacteria is an emerging trend in agriculture since they can promote plant growth under normal conditions and abiotic and biotic stresses. In this regard, endophytic bacteria have been used to deal with the consequences of the climate crisis in global crops, as alternatives to ecologically unsustainable chemical pesticides and fertilizers. These bacteria can benefit plant growth by direct mechanisms, such as hormone production and nutrient solubilization, and indirect mechanisms, which involve protecting the plant against pathogens and suppressing disease. Thus, this chapter aims to present the main mechanisms of plant growth promotion by endophytic bacteria, focusing on the genetic and physiological processes of biocontrol of pathogen growth and induction of systemic plant resistance. Genome sequencing data from endophytic bacteria provide information about genes involved in the synthesis of enzymes and antimicrobial compounds, such as siderophores and hydrocyanic acid, among others. Furthermore, genetic pathways involved in plant response induction were characterized using sequencing experiments and differential RNA expression analysis. Jasmonic acid and salicylic acid biosynthesis genes are differentially expressed in response to plant interaction with endophytic bacteria. Therefore, data from the most current methodologies of genetic and molecular analysis will be condensed here to provide an overview to respond to the question that heads the chapter.