Chapter 6
Microbial Endophytes: New Direction
to Natural Sources
Azim Ghasemnezhad, Arezou Frouzy, Mansour Ghorbanpour,
and Omid Sohrabi
Abstract The concept of endophytes and their beneficial relationship with the plant
is widely accepted as an important step in the co-evolution and diversity of plants.
The symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi and rhizobia with legumes
have a long evolutionary history. During exploration, fossils have shown close associations between endophytic fungi and plants roughly, 400 million years ago. The
common symbiotic relationship between fungi and plants facilitated the evolution of
large group of primary and secondary metabolites of considerable chemical diversity,
have a unique structure and high biological activity. During the last two decades, a
growing interest in the study of endophytes, origin, biodiversity, interactions between
endophytes and host plants, their role in ecology as well as biological activities of
metabolites have been established. Several novel and beneficial activities for these
microorganisms are evident by available literature, reveals their role as multifarious
biologicals. The diversity and dynamics of endophyte populations, use of microbial
inoculants to improve plant growth and health, and their role as a new bio-resource for
metabolites are considerable interests of the twenty-first century. The exploration of
active secondary metabolite is one of the most important reasons for the endophytes
of industrial significance.
Keywords Ecology · Bacteria · Endophyte · Fungi · Metabolites · Symbiosis
A. Ghasemnezhad · A. Frouzy
Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
M. Ghorbanpour (B)
Department of Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University,
Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran
e-mail: m-ghorbanpour@araku.ac.ir
O. Sohrabi
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Guilan University, Rasht, Iran
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. K. Maheshwari and S. Dheeman (eds.), Endophytes: Mineral Nutrient
Management, Volume 3, Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 26,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65447-4_6
123
Microbial Endophytes: New Direction
to Natural Sources
Azim Ghasemnezhad, Arezou Frouzy, Mansour Ghorbanpour,
and Omid Sohrabi
Abstract The concept of endophytes and their beneficial relationship with the plant
is widely accepted as an important step in the co-evolution and diversity of plants.
The symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi and rhizobia with legumes
have a long evolutionary history. During exploration, fossils have shown close associations between endophytic fungi and plants roughly, 400 million years ago. The
common symbiotic relationship between fungi and plants facilitated the evolution of
large group of primary and secondary metabolites of considerable chemical diversity,
have a unique structure and high biological activity. During the last two decades, a
growing interest in the study of endophytes, origin, biodiversity, interactions between
endophytes and host plants, their role in ecology as well as biological activities of
metabolites have been established. Several novel and beneficial activities for these
microorganisms are evident by available literature, reveals their role as multifarious
biologicals. The diversity and dynamics of endophyte populations, use of microbial
inoculants to improve plant growth and health, and their role as a new bio-resource for
metabolites are considerable interests of the twenty-first century. The exploration of
active secondary metabolite is one of the most important reasons for the endophytes
of industrial significance.
Keywords Ecology · Bacteria · Endophyte · Fungi · Metabolites · Symbiosis
A. Ghasemnezhad · A. Frouzy
Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
M. Ghorbanpour (B)
Department of Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University,
Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran
e-mail: m-ghorbanpour@araku.ac.ir
O. Sohrabi
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Guilan University, Rasht, Iran
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. K. Maheshwari and S. Dheeman (eds.), Endophytes: Mineral Nutrient
Management, Volume 3, Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 26,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65447-4_6
123