Bacterial endophytes of plants: diversity, invasion mechanisms and effects on the host

IBAÑEZ, FERNANDO; TONELLI, MERÍA LAURA; MUÑOZ, VANINA; FIGUEREDO, MARÍA SOLEDAD; FABRA, ADRIANA

Endophytes: Biology and Biotechnology

springer

Año: 2017; p. 25 - 40

Abstract Plant inner tissues are colonized by bacterial organisms known asendophytes. The relatively recent application of culture independent and molecularhigh throughput techniques allowed the description of a large diversity of endophyticbacterial taxa. These microorganisms can be found in any plant organ,including fruits and legume nodules. Some endophytic bacteria benefit the host byseveral mechanisms, and their application to economically important crops representsan interesting alternative to the use of agrochemicals. However, more studiesare required to clearly assess their effects on the hosts (especially in co-inoculationwith other beneficial bacteria) and the molecular events that lead to the interactionbetween plants and endophytic microorganisms. In this chapter, we focus on bacterialendophytes from legumes and non-legumes plants, analyzing their diversityand effects on the hosts. We also discuss the endophytic colonization of legumenodules, with emphasis on the endophytic bacterial diversity, the mechanismsinvolved in the nodule invasion and their effects on the hosts