ABSTRACT
Bacterial and fungal endophytes ubiquitously live inside the plant tissues without having any negative impact on the host. Considering the long-lived trees, endophytes play a crucial role in preparing their hosts to adapt to extreme environmental conditions, drought, temperature, cold, pathogen and herbivore attacks. Endophyte also provides tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses and can modulate plant immune response. This chapter comprises an overview of the current status of microbial endophytes isolated from forest ecosystems/trees and their applications in plant health and defence against pathogens. Endophytes offer an eco-friendly and viable option for promoting plant growth and biocontrol agents may contribute to sustainable agriculture.
