Endophytic Bacteria: Plant Growth-promoting Activities and their Application in Plant Disease Control

One of the primary concerns in agriculture is the sustainable cultivation of food crops and the management of microbial phytopathogens. Controlling fungal and bacterial phytopathogens with agrochemicals is a frequent practice. However, agrochemicals have dangerous and harmful effects on human health and the environment. This position led to an increasing demand for alternative methods for controlling fungal and bacterial diseases in crops. Among them, plant growth-promoting bacteria endophytes can improve plant growth and control bacterial and fungal diseases. This chapter discusses the most relevant literature on plant growth-promoting bacterial endophytes and provides insight into their known biostimulant and biocontrol mechanisms. The literature review highlights that plant growth-promoting bacterial endophytes could be a viable and sustainable alternative to agrochemicals. However, the scientific community and the industrial field should encourage the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria endophytes and with rigorous and scientifically sound studies on the subject. Without the dynamic collaboration of the scientific world, industries and farms, the market could not be ready to sustain the increasing demand for biofertilizers.