6 Microbial Endophytes: New Direction to Natural Sources
143
production, which has had negative impacts in the face of population growth. As
such, the application of proper and optimal management practices for the efficient
use of lands has drawn the attention of scientific circles. On the other hand, it can
be useful to apply methods that can improve production efficiency. Producers are
always concerned about the limiting factors of crop production, e.g., adverse climatic
and nutritional conditions, pathogens, and spatial limitations. As already described,
endophytes are bacteria or fungi that penetrate a plant and influence it positively
without creating disease symptoms (although they may turn out to be pathogenic in
some unfavorable growth conditions) (Wilson 1995).
In this regard, it is important and practical to understand endophytes, their relationships with their host, and their various ecological and nutritional needs (Nair and
Padmavathy 2014). Since endophytes can be present in different parts of a plant, this
is an advantage for us as we will not be restricted in their application (Pirttilä et al.
2000, 2003). In the first place, various studies have been carried out on endophyte
symbiosis with plants in agriculture, suggesting different ways to isolate endophytes
(Hallmann et al. 1997; Reinhold-Hurek and Hurek 1998). It is important to answer
the questions as to how to extract endophytes, how to cultivate them, and where to
cultivate them to obtain them in great deals. This encompasses different environments, research on which is underway and should be expanded in the future (Rai
et al. 2007; Hata and Sone 2008). Based on the research already conducted, some
endophytes can be applied in production processes (Table 6.7).
Today, given the change of climates in the world and the diversity of agricultural
production sites, the climatic conditions should always be considered (Nair and
Padmavathy 2014). For example, a study showed that changes in climatic conditions
and the resulting changes in plant size may affect endophyte abundance (Rai et al.
2007; Chareprasert et al. 2006). In this light, future research should focus on the
ecological requirements of endophytes to figure out the optimal conditions for the
individual endophytes. Research on endophytes has been undertaken in a variety of
fields, and environmental conditions should be properly assessed to obtain better
results. Given the modern advances in biotechnology, endophytes can be presented
as an important and useful tool. Diverse studies have addressed using endophytes as
molecular markers and transporter genes. In addition to these roles, their beneficial
side effects can be utilized for the benefit of the plants (Dheeman et al. 2017).
The technology needs developments in the consideration of science expansion and
well-being of humans (Nair and Padmavathy 2014; Araujo et al. 2002).
It is known that plants need a wide range of elements for survival and the deficiency of any of these elements can influence their growth and production negatively.
Some important agriculture-related measures can be enumerated as endophytes in
nutrient uptake, balanced establishment, stress-free conditions for plants, and production of secondary metabolites those are not just limited to farming but also expanded
into other biological fields, like in biological control, organic farming, antimicrobial
compound, synthesis of important enzymes, and in tissue culture as major tool in
agriculture (Nair and Padmavathy 2014). Overall, endophytes can be considered as
plant contributors, their roles are not limited to a single field but encompass various
sequential fields. On the other hand, with respect to the close relationship of medical
143
production, which has had negative impacts in the face of population growth. As
such, the application of proper and optimal management practices for the efficient
use of lands has drawn the attention of scientific circles. On the other hand, it can
be useful to apply methods that can improve production efficiency. Producers are
always concerned about the limiting factors of crop production, e.g., adverse climatic
and nutritional conditions, pathogens, and spatial limitations. As already described,
endophytes are bacteria or fungi that penetrate a plant and influence it positively
without creating disease symptoms (although they may turn out to be pathogenic in
some unfavorable growth conditions) (Wilson 1995).
In this regard, it is important and practical to understand endophytes, their relationships with their host, and their various ecological and nutritional needs (Nair and
Padmavathy 2014). Since endophytes can be present in different parts of a plant, this
is an advantage for us as we will not be restricted in their application (Pirttilä et al.
2000, 2003). In the first place, various studies have been carried out on endophyte
symbiosis with plants in agriculture, suggesting different ways to isolate endophytes
(Hallmann et al. 1997; Reinhold-Hurek and Hurek 1998). It is important to answer
the questions as to how to extract endophytes, how to cultivate them, and where to
cultivate them to obtain them in great deals. This encompasses different environments, research on which is underway and should be expanded in the future (Rai
et al. 2007; Hata and Sone 2008). Based on the research already conducted, some
endophytes can be applied in production processes (Table 6.7).
Today, given the change of climates in the world and the diversity of agricultural
production sites, the climatic conditions should always be considered (Nair and
Padmavathy 2014). For example, a study showed that changes in climatic conditions
and the resulting changes in plant size may affect endophyte abundance (Rai et al.
2007; Chareprasert et al. 2006). In this light, future research should focus on the
ecological requirements of endophytes to figure out the optimal conditions for the
individual endophytes. Research on endophytes has been undertaken in a variety of
fields, and environmental conditions should be properly assessed to obtain better
results. Given the modern advances in biotechnology, endophytes can be presented
as an important and useful tool. Diverse studies have addressed using endophytes as
molecular markers and transporter genes. In addition to these roles, their beneficial
side effects can be utilized for the benefit of the plants (Dheeman et al. 2017).
The technology needs developments in the consideration of science expansion and
well-being of humans (Nair and Padmavathy 2014; Araujo et al. 2002).
It is known that plants need a wide range of elements for survival and the deficiency of any of these elements can influence their growth and production negatively.
Some important agriculture-related measures can be enumerated as endophytes in
nutrient uptake, balanced establishment, stress-free conditions for plants, and production of secondary metabolites those are not just limited to farming but also expanded
into other biological fields, like in biological control, organic farming, antimicrobial
compound, synthesis of important enzymes, and in tissue culture as major tool in
agriculture (Nair and Padmavathy 2014). Overall, endophytes can be considered as
plant contributors, their roles are not limited to a single field but encompass various
sequential fields. On the other hand, with respect to the close relationship of medical