| Endophytes as a hidden solution for securing food resources, enhancing nutritive value and aiding plant adaptation to climate change |
| Paper ID : 1114-ISCHU |
| Authors |
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Nashwa H. Abdullah * Helwan University - Faculty of Science- Botany and Microbiology Department |
| Abstract |
| Endophytes represent an important constituent of the plant microbiome. They can play a role in enhancing plants’ adaptation to environmental stress. Endophytes can modulate and enhance the tolerance of the host plant to abiotic stress such as heat, drought, and salinity. Indeed, studies have reported the ability of root endophytes to increase heat and drought tolerance in wheat plant and to enhance salt tolerance in a salt-sensitive barley cultivar via elaborating certain metabolites and by increasing the production of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, endophytes can increase the tolerance of their host plants for biotic stress. Many studies have reported the modulation of endophytes in enhancing the resistance of their host plants for pathogens and pests thus they can sustain plant health and performance in a climate change scenario and reduce the need to use agrochemicals and pesticides to limit their impacts on environment and human health. On the other hand, many endophytes have been reported as plant growth promotors. They can enhance the growth and germination of their host plants representing eco-friendly, cheap, and renewable fertilizers to secure food supply, meet food demands and limit the dependence on chemical fertilizers. In addition to that, the close interaction between the host plant and its endophytic population can induce changes in the plant metabolome. Recently the ability of endophytic populations to improve the translocation of micronutrients to their host plants and to enhance their nutritive value has been reported. Indeed, wheat endophytic zinc solubilizers and siderophores producers have been detected to enhance the wheat grains’ quality by increasing their Zn and iron content. Also, accumulation of bioactive metabolites in Chenopodium Sprouts have been enhanced by its endophytic Streptomyces. Finally, endophytes of medicinal plants have been recorded as promising candidates to produce their host plants’ bioactive compounds. The use of endophytes as an alternative source for these compounds can save cultivation area, cost, and irrigation water. Moreover, that alternative production technique can reduce the over-harvesting of endangered plants and protect the wild population from extinction. Hence, endophytes can be exploited to develop promising strategies for controlling climate change’s effects and malnutrition issues. |
| Keywords |
| Endophytes; plants’ adaptation; Climate change |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Oral Presentation) |