Chapter 8
Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
of Endophytes in Biocontrol,
Bioremediation, and Plant Growth
Promotion
Houda Ben Slama, Hafsa Cherif-Silini, Ali Chenari Bouket, Allaoua Silini,
Faizah N. Alenezi, Lenka Luptakova, Armelle Vallat, and Lassaad Belbahri
Abstract Endophytes have been known for more than a century and recent
studies highlighted their endless potentialities in plant growth promotion through
several direct and indirect mechanisms. Competent microbial endophytes have
been acknowledged in several fields including medicine, industry, pharmacology,
bioremediation, and phytoremediation of pollutants due to their safe handling
and environment-friendly effects. Modern genomic approaches are considered an
effective tool to get a better knowledge of the microbial modes of action. This
chapter focuses on endophytes taxonomic affinities and lifestyle, their plant growthpromoting mechanisms, their applications as well as the potential of emerging “omic”
tools including genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomics, and proteomics to shed the
light on the wealth of their genomic and metabolic potentialities.
H. B. Slama · L. Belbahri (B)
NextBiotech, 98 Rue Ali Belhouane, 3030, Agareb, Tunisia
e-mail: lassaad.belbahri@unine.ch
H. Cherif-Silini · A. Silini
Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Life
Sciences, University Ferhat Abbas Setif-1, Setif, Algeria
A. C. Bouket
Plant Protection Research Department, East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources
Research and Education Center, AREEO, Tabriz, Iran
F. N. Alenezi
Environmental Technology and Management Department, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait
University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
L. Luptakova
Department of Biology and Genetics, Institute of Biology, Zoology and Radiobiology, University
of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Kosice, Slovakia
A. Vallat
Neuchatel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Neuchatel,
Neuchatel, Switzerland
L. Belbahri
Laboratory of Soil Biology, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
© 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_8
181
Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
of Endophytes in Biocontrol,
Bioremediation, and Plant Growth
Promotion
Houda Ben Slama, Hafsa Cherif-Silini, Ali Chenari Bouket, Allaoua Silini,
Faizah N. Alenezi, Lenka Luptakova, Armelle Vallat, and Lassaad Belbahri
Abstract Endophytes have been known for more than a century and recent
studies highlighted their endless potentialities in plant growth promotion through
several direct and indirect mechanisms. Competent microbial endophytes have
been acknowledged in several fields including medicine, industry, pharmacology,
bioremediation, and phytoremediation of pollutants due to their safe handling
and environment-friendly effects. Modern genomic approaches are considered an
effective tool to get a better knowledge of the microbial modes of action. This
chapter focuses on endophytes taxonomic affinities and lifestyle, their plant growthpromoting mechanisms, their applications as well as the potential of emerging “omic”
tools including genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomics, and proteomics to shed the
light on the wealth of their genomic and metabolic potentialities.
H. B. Slama · L. Belbahri (B)
NextBiotech, 98 Rue Ali Belhouane, 3030, Agareb, Tunisia
e-mail: lassaad.belbahri@unine.ch
H. Cherif-Silini · A. Silini
Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Life
Sciences, University Ferhat Abbas Setif-1, Setif, Algeria
A. C. Bouket
Plant Protection Research Department, East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources
Research and Education Center, AREEO, Tabriz, Iran
F. N. Alenezi
Environmental Technology and Management Department, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait
University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
L. Luptakova
Department of Biology and Genetics, Institute of Biology, Zoology and Radiobiology, University
of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Kosice, Slovakia
A. Vallat
Neuchatel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Neuchatel,
Neuchatel, Switzerland
L. Belbahri
Laboratory of Soil Biology, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
© 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_8
181