Endophytic fungi: Unravelling plant-endophyte interaction and the multifaceted role of fungal endophytes in stress amelioration.

Endophytic fungi colonize interior plant tissue and mostly form mutualistic associations with their host plant. Plant-endophyte interaction is a complex mechanism and is currently a focus of research to understand the underlying mechanism of endophyte asymptomatic colonization, the process of evading plant immune response, modulation of gene expression, and establishment of a balanced mutualistic relationship. Fungal endophytes rely on plant hosts for nutrients, shelter, and transmission and improve the host plant's tolerance against biotic stresses, including -herbivores, nematodes, bacterial, fungal, viral, nematode, and other phytopathogens. Endophytic fungi have been reported to improve plant health by reducing and eradicating the harmful effect of phytopathogens through competition for space or nutrients, mycoparasitism, and through direct or indirect defense systems by producing secondary metabolites as well as by induced systemic resistance (ISR). Additionally, for efficient crop improvement, practicing them would be a fruitful step for a sustainable approach. This review article summarizes the current research progress in plant-endophyte interaction and the fungal endophyte mechanism to overcome host defense responses, their subsequent colonization, and the establishment of a balanced mutualistic interaction with host plants. This review also highlighted the potential of fungal endophytes in the amelioration of biotic stress. We have also discussed the relevance of various bioactive compounds possessing antimicrobial potential against a variety of agricultural pathogens. Furthermore, endophyte-mediated ISR is also emphasized.

Microbes vs. Nematodes: Insights into Biocontrol through Antagonistic Organisms to Control Root-Knot Nematodes.

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are sedentary endoparasites that cause severe economic losses to agricultural crops globally. Due to the regulations of the European Union on the application of nematicides, it is crucial now to discover eco-friendly control strategies for nematode management. Biocontrol is one such safe and reliable method for managing these polyphagous nematodes. Biocontrol agents not only control these parasitic nematodes but also improve plant growth and induce systemic resistance in plants against a variety of biotic stresses. A wide range of organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoans live in their natural mode as nematode antagonists. Various review articles have discussed the role of biocontrol in nematode management in general, but a specific review on biocontrol of root-knot nematodes is not available in detail. This review, therefore, focuses on the biocontrol of root-knot nematodes by discussing their important known antagonists, modes of action, and interactions.