Acta Scientific Microbiology

Research Article Volume 8 Issue 9

Exploring the Role of Bacterial Endophytes in Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Ecological Sustainability: A Comprehensive Review

Vipul M Bhinsara*, Sanjay S Ingle

Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology Centre, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, 390002, India

*Corresponding Author: Sanjay S Ingle , Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology Centre, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, 390002, India.

Received: August 22, 2025; Published: August 29, 2025

Abstract

Bacterial endophytes have emerged as key contributors to agricultural productivity and ecological sustainability, particularly in the face of global environmental challenges and the growing demand for sustainable development. These microorganisms support plant health through multiple mechanisms, including the production of bioactive compounds with potential applications in biotechnology and medicine. Acting as natural biocontrol agents, they reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thereby promoting eco-friendly farming practices. By enhancing crop resilience, improving pest management, and sustaining agricultural productivity, bacterial endophytes offer promising solutions for environmentally responsible agriculture. Beyond agriculture, their role in sustainable industrial processes has also gained attention. The integration of bacterial endophytes into diverse economic sectors holds the potential to balance ecological stability with human needs. However, much of their potential remains underexplored. Future research should focus on expanding their applications, understanding their mechanisms in greater depth, and evaluating their long-term ecological impacts. This review highlights the remarkable promise of bacterial endophytes as innovative tools for addressing modern challenges while contributing to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices across agriculture, biotechnology, and industry.

Keywords: Endophytes; Plant Growth Promotion; Biofertilizers; Phytoremediation; Industrial Applications

References

  1. Döbereiner 0J. "History and new perspectives of diazotrophs in association with non-leguminous plants”. (1992): 1-13.
  2. Schulz Barbara and Christine Boyle. "What are endophytes?”. Microbial Root Endophytes. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, (2006): 1-13.
  3. Pang Zhiqiang., et al. "Linking plant secondary metabolites and plant microbiomes: a review”. Frontiers in Plant Science12 (2021): 621276.
  4. Nadarajah Kalaivani and Nur Sabrina Natasha Abdul Rahman. "Plant–microbe interaction: aboveground to belowground, from the good to the bad”. International Journal of Molecular Sciences19 (2021): 10388.
  5. Shukla ST., et al. "Endophytic microbes: a novel source for biologically/pharmacologically active secondary metabolites”. Asian Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 3 (2014): 1-6.
  6. Verma Hariom., et al. "The potential application of endophytes in management of stress from drought and salinity in crop plants”. Microorganisms8 (2021): 1729.
  7. Eid Ahmed Mohamed., et al. "Role of endophytes in plant health and abiotic stress management”. Microbiome in Plant Health and Disease: Challenges and Opportunities. Singapore: Springer Singapore, 2019. 119-144.
  8. Golinska Patrycja., et al. "Endophytic actinobacteria of medicinal plants: diversity and bioactivity”. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek2 (2015): 267-289.
  9. Sun Hui., et al. "Isolation, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of endophytic bacteria from Polygonum cuspidatum”. African Journal of Microbiology Research 16 (2013): 1496-1504.
  10. Hollants Joke., et al. "Who is in there? Exploration of endophytic bacteria within the siphonous green seaweed Bryopsis (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta)”. PLoS One10 (2011): e26458.
  11. Mercado-Blanco Jesús and Ben JJ Lugtenberg. "Biotechnological applications of bacterial endophytes”. Current Biotechnology1 (2014): 60-75.
  12. Meneses Carlos HSG., et al. "Exopolysaccharide production is required for biofilm formation and plant colonization by the nitrogen-fixing endophyte Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus”. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions12 (2011): 1448-1458.
  13. Meneses C., et al. "Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus exopolysaccharide protects bacterial cells against oxidative stress in vitro and during rice plant colonization”. Plant and Soil1 (2017): 133-147.
  14. Balsanelli Eduardo., et al. "Exopolysaccharide biosynthesis enables mature biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces by Herbaspirillum seropedicae”. PloS one10 (2014): e110392.
  15. Liu Jun., et al. "Recent advances in endophytic exopolysaccharides: Production, structural characterization, physiological role and biological activity”. Carbohydrate Polymers157 (2017): 1113-1124.
  16. Hardoim Pablo R., et al. "The hidden world within plants: ecological and evolutionary considerations for defining functioning of microbial endophytes”. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews3 (2015): 293-320.
  17. Shukuru Bitaisha Nakishuka., et al. "Phyllosphere endophytic bacteria: diversity and biotechnological potential”. Plant Endophytes and Secondary Metabolites. Academic Press, (2024): 269-294.
  18. Kandel S L., et al. "Diazotrophic endophytes of poplar and willow for growth promotion of rice plants in nitrogen‐limited conditions”. Crop Science4 (2015): 1765-1772.
  19. Castanheira Nádia L., et al. "Colonization and beneficial effects on annual ryegrass by mixed inoculation with plant growth promoting bacteria”. Microbiological Research198 (2017): 47-55.
  20. Compant Stéphane., et al. "Endophytic colonization of Vitis vinifera L. by plant growth-promoting bacterium Burkholderia sp. strain PsJN”. Applied and Environmental Microbiology4 (2005): 1685-1693.
  21. White Jr James F., et al. "Hydrogen peroxide staining to visualize intracellular bacterial infections of seedling root cells”. Microscopy Research and Technique8 (2014): 566-573.
  22. Paungfoo‐Lonhienne Chanyarat., et al. "Rhizophagy—A new dimension of plant–microbe interactions”. Molecular Microbial Ecology of the Rhizosphere1 (2013): 1199-1207.
  23. Schirawski Jan and Michael H Perlin. "Plant–microbe interaction 2017—the good, the bad and the diverse”. International Journal of Molecular Sciences5 (2018): 1374.
  24. Doty Sharon Lafferty. "Symbiotic plant-bacterial Endospheric interactions”. Microorganisms2 (2018): 28.
  25. Balsanelli Eduardo., et al. "Herbaspirillum seropedicae rfbB and rfbC genes are required for maize colonization”. Environmental Microbiology8 (2010): 2233-2244.
  26. Reinhold-Hurek Barbara., et al. "An endoglucanase is involved in infection of rice roots by the not-cellulose-metabolizing endophyte Azoarcus sp. strain BH72”. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions2 (2006): 181-188.
  27. Fouda Amr., et al. "The efficacy of silver nitrate (AgNO3) as a coating agent to protect paper against high deteriorating microbes”. Catalysts3 (2021): 310.
  28. Suárez-Moreno Zulma Rocío., et al. "Commonalities and differences in regulation of N-acyl homoserine lactone quorum sensing in the beneficial plant-associated Burkholderia species cluster”. Applied and Environmental Microbiology13 (2010): 4302-4317.
  29. Hardoim Pablo R., et al. "Properties of bacterial endophytes and their proposed role in plant growth”. Trends in Microbiology10 (2008): 463-471.
  30. Prieto Pilar., et al. "Root hairs play a key role in the endophytic colonization of olive roots by Pseudomonas spp. with biocontrol activity”. Microbial Ecology2 (2011): 435-445.
  31. Paungfoo-Lonhienne Chanyarat., et al. "Turning the table: plants consume microbes as a source of nutrients”. PLOS One7 (2010): e11915.
  32. Kozdrój Jacek and Jan Dirk van Elsas. "Response of the bacterial community to root exudates in soil polluted with heavy metals assessed by molecular and cultural approaches”. Soil Biology and Biochemistry10 (2000): 1405-1417.
  33. Dalal Jitendra and Nikhilesh Kulkarni. "Population Dynamics and Diversity of Endophytic Bacteria Associated with Soybean (Glycine max (L) Merril)”. (2013).
  34. Mocali Stefano., et al. "Fluctuation of bacteria isolated from elm tissues during different seasons and from different plant organs”. Research in Microbiology2 (2003): 105-114.
  35. Dalmastri C., et al. "Soil type and maize cultivar affect the genetic diversity of maize root–associated Burkholderia cepacia populations”. Microbial Ecology3 (1999): 273-284.
  36. Dini-Andreote Francisco., et al. "Bacterial soil community in a Brazilian sugarcane field”. Plant and Soil1 (2010): 337-349.
  37. Yamada Tsuioshi and PR de C Castro. "Efeitos do glifosato nas plantas: implicações fisiológicas e agronômicas”. Informações Agronômicas119 (2007): 1-32.
  38. Cerdeira Antonio L and Stephen O Duke. "The current status and environmental impacts of glyphosate‐resistant crops: a review”. Journal of Environmental Quality5 (2006): 1633-1658.
  39. de Almeida Lopes K B., et al. "Culturable endophytic bacterial communities associated with field‐grown soybean”. Journal of Applied Microbiology3 (2016): 740-755.
  40. Doty Sharon Lafferty. "Enhancing phytoremediation through the use of transgenics and endophytes”. New Phytologist2 (2008): 318-333.
  41. Compant Stéphane., et al. "Use of plant growth-promoting bacteria for biocontrol of plant diseases: principles, mechanisms of action, and future prospects”. Applied and Environmental Microbiology9 (2005): 4951-4959.
  42. Bhardwaj Mansavi., et al. "Harnessing fungal endophytes for natural management: a biocontrol perspective”. Frontiers in Microbiology14 (2023): 1280258.
  43. Misganaw Goshu and Collins Mutai. "The Contribution of Microbial Endophytes Associated with Climate-Smart Brachiaria Grass Species to Sustainable Agriculture and Environment”. Land and Water Degradation in Ethiopia: Climate and Land Use Change Implications. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, (2024): 43-69.
  44. Hardoim Pablo R., et al. "Genome-wide transcriptome profiling provides insights into the responses of maize (Zea mays L.) to diazotrophic bacteria”. Plant and Soil1 (2020): 121-143.
  45. Abdul Rahman., et al. "Effects of abiotic stress on soil microbiome”. International Journal of Molecular Sciences16 (2021): 9036.
  46. Clay Keith. "The potential role of endophytes in ecosystems”. Biotechnology of Endophytic Fungi of Grasses. CRC Press, (2018): 73-86.
  47. McKinley, Vicky L. "Effects of land use and restoration on soil microbial communities”. Understanding Terrestrial Microbial Communities. Cham: Springer International Publishing (2019): 173-242.
  48. Shahzad G I R. "Biocontrol Strategies Against Plant Pathogens”. (2021).
  49. Ayilara Modupe Stella., et al. "Bioprospecting and challenges of plant microbiome research for sustainable agriculture, a review on soybean endophytic bacteria”. Microbial ecology3 (2023): 1113-1135.
  50. Sikdar Subhas K., et al. "Measuring progress towards sustainability”. Springer International Publishing10 (2017): 978-3.
  51. Mercado-Blanco Jesús and Ben JJ Lugtenberg. "Biotechnological applications of bacterial endophytes”. Current Biotechnology1 (2014): 60-75.
  52. Vandana Gupta., et al. "The Future of Biocontrol by Plant-Microbe Nexus: Novel Strategies and Applications”. Climate Change and Soil Microorganisms for Environmental Sustainability. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, (2025): 403-427.
  53. Sahoo Abhishek., et al. "Omics-driven insights into plant growth-promoting microorganisms for sustainable agriculture”. Discover Sustainability1 (2025): 1-23.
  54. Aware Chetan and Jyoti Jadhav. "Bioprospecting potential of microbes for the therapeutic application”. Bioprospecting of Microbial Diversity. Elsevier, (2022): 223-255.
  55. Durán Nelson., et al. "Advances in Chromobacterium violaceum and properties of violacein-Its main secondary metabolite: A review”. Biotechnology Advances5 (2016): 1030-1045.
  56. Liu Zhudong., et al. "Effects of acuC on the growth development and spinosad biosynthesis of Saccharopolyspora spinosa”. Microbial Cell Factories1 (2021): 141.
  57. Yadav Krishna Kumar., et al. "Mechanistic understanding and holistic approach of phytoremediation: A review on application and future prospects”. Ecological Engineering120 (2018): 274-298.
  58. Deng Zujun and Lixiang Cao. "Fungal endophytes and their interactions with plants in phytoremediation: a review”. Chemosphere168 (2017): 1100-1106.
  59. Rathod Sandip V. “Eco-restoration of polluted environment: a biological perspective”. CRC Press (2024).
  60. Mullan Thomas. "Applications of phytase-mediated phosphate biomineralizaton for the remediation of uranium mine tailings”. (2020).
  61. Sodhi Gurleen Kaur., et al. "Nanomaterials–plants–microbes interaction: plant growth promotion and stress mitigation”. Frontiers in Microbiology15 (2025): 1516794.
  62. Ghosh UK., et al. "Proline, a multifaceted signalling molecule in plant responses to abiotic stress: understanding the physiological mechanisms”. Plant Biology2 (2022): 227-239.
  63. Agboola D A., et al. "A review of plant growth substances: Their forms, structures, synthesis and functions”. Journal of Advanced Laboratory Research in Biology4 (2014): 152-168.
  64. Harman Gary E and Norman Uphoff. "Symbiotic root‐endophytic soil microbes improve crop productivity and provide environmental benefits”. Scientifica1 (2019): 9106395.
  65. Nakkeeran S., et al. "Bacterial endophytome-mediated resistance in banana for the management of Fusarium wilt”. 3 Biotech6 (2021): 267.
  66. Srivastava Suchi., et al. "Gene expression profiling through microarray analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana colonized by Pseudomonas putida MTCC5279, a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium”. Plant Signaling and Behavior2 (2012): 235-245.
  67. Gomes Eliane Aparecida., et al. "Role of phosphate solubilizing microbes on phosphorous availability and yield attributes of millet”. Millet Rhizosphere. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, (2023): 195-211.
  68. Makuwa Sephokoane Cindy. “Metabolite fingerprinting of culturable endophytic bacteria isolated from Dicoma anomala and their antimicrobial activity”. University of Johannesburg (South Africa), (2020).
  69. Singh Monika., et al. "Endophytic bacteria: a new source of bioactive compounds”. 3 Biotech5 (2017): 315.
  70. Baindara Piyush and Santi M Mandal. "Bacteria and bacterial anticancer agents as a promising alternative for cancer therapeutics”. Biochimie177 (2020): 164-189.
  71. Dwibedi Vagish., et al. "Microbial endophytes: application towards sustainable agriculture and food security”. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology17 (2022): 5359-5384.
  72. Saha Priyanka., et al. "Bioprospecting for fungal-endophyte-derived natural products for drug discovery”. Advances in Endophytic Fungal Research: Present Status and Future Challenges. Cham: Springer International Publishing (2019): 35-49.

Citation

Citation: Vipul M Bhinsara, Sanjay S Ingle. “Exploring the Role of Bacterial Endophytes in Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Ecological Sustainability: A Comprehensive Review".Acta Scientific Microbiology 8.9 (2025): 58-68.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Vipul M Bhinsara, Sanjay S Ingle. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.




Metrics

Acceptance rate30%
Acceptance to publication20-30 days

Indexed In






News and Events


  • Reviewer Certificate
    Certificate will be issues to the valued reviewer who worked on the Articles Peer Review process.
  • Publication Certificate
    Authors will be provided with the Publication Certificate after their successful publication
  • Last Date for submission
    Authors are requested to submit their manuscripts before September 30, 2025

Contact US