Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Endophytic bacteria as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens: current state-of-the-art

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Plant Biotechnology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Most plants co-exist with fungal and bacterial endophytes. Generally, endophytes are beneficial microorganisms that colonize the internal tissues of their host plants. Plants derive several advantages from endophytic colonization, such as the biocontrol of phytopathogens and growth-promoting factors. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of endophytic bacteria and their potential as natural biocontrol agents for plants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aravind R, Kumar A, Eapen SJ, Ramana KV (2009) Endophytic bacterial flora in root and stem tissues of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) genotype: isolation, identification and evaluation against Phytophthora capsici. Lett Appl Microbiol 48:58–64

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asraful Islam SM, Math RK, Kim JM, Yun MG, Cho JJ, Kim EJ, Lee YH, Yun HD (2010) Effect of plant age on endophytic bacterial diversity of balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorum) root and their antimicrobial activities. Curr Microbiol 61:346–356

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bai Y, Müller DB, Srinivas G, Garrido-Oter R, Potthoff E, Rott M, Dombrowski N, Münch PC, Spaepen S, Remus-Emsermann M, Hüttel B, McHardy AC, Vorholt JA, Schulze-Lefert P (2015) Functional overlap of the Arabidopsis leaf and root microbiota. Nature 528:364–369

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beck HC, Hansen AM, Lauritsen FR (2003) Novel pyrazine metabolites found in polymyxin biosynthesis by Paenibacillus polymyxa. FEMS Microbiol Lett 220:67–73

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benhizia Y, Benhizia H, Benguedouar A, Muresu R, Giacomini A, Squartini A (2004) Gamma proteobacteria can nodulate legumes of the genus Hedysarum. Syst Appl Microbiol 27:462–468

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berg G, Hallmann J (2006) Control of plant pathogenic fungi with bacterial endophytes. In: Schulz BJE, Boyle CJC, Sieber TN (eds) Microbial root endophytes. Springer, Berlin, pp 53–69

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Berg G, Krechel A, Ditz M, Sikora RA, Ulrich A, Hallmann J (2005) Endophytic and ectophytic potato-associated bacterial communities differ in structure and antagonistic function against plant pathogenic fungi. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 51:215–229

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bertalan M, Albano R, de Pádua V, Rouws L, Rojas C, Hemerly A, Teixeira K, Schwab S, Araujo J, Oliveira A, França L, Magalhães V, Alquéres S, Cardoso A, Almeida W, Loureiro MM, Nogueira E, Cidade D, Oliveira D, Simão T, Macedo J, Valadão A, Dreschsel M, Freitas F, Vidal M, Guedes H, Rodrigues E, Meneses C, Brioso P, Pozzer L, Figueiredo D, Montano H, Junior J, de Souza Filho G, Martin Quintana Flores V, Ferreira B, Branco A, Gonzalez P, Guillobel H, Lemos M, Seibel L, Macedo J, Alves-Ferreira M, Sachetto-Martins G, Coelho A, Santos E, Amaral G, Neves A, Pacheco AB, Carvalho D, Lery L, Bisch P, Rössle SC, Ürményi T, Rael Pereira A, Silva R, Rondinelli E, von Krüger W, Martins O, Baldani JI, Ferreira PCG (2009) Complete genome sequence of the sugarcane nitrogen-fixing endophyte Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus Pal5. BMC Genom 10:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canova SP, Petta T, Reyes LF, Zucchi TD, Moraes LAB, Melo IS (2010) Characterization of lipopeptides from Paenibacillus sp. (IIRAC30) suppressing Rhizoctonia solani. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 26:2241–2247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castillo UF, Strobel GA, Ford EJ, Hess WM, Porter H, Jensen JB, Albert H, Robison R, Condron MAM, Teplow DB, Stevens D, Yaver D (2002) Munumbicins, wide-spectrum antibiotics produced by Streptomyces NRRL 30562, endophytic on Kennedia nigriscansa. Microbiology 148:2675–2685

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cho KM, Hong SY, Lee SM, Kim YH, Kahng GG, Lim YP, Kim H, Yun HD (2007) Endophytic bacterial communities in ginseng and their antifungal activity against pathogens. Microb Ecol 54:341–351

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deng Y, Zhu Y, Wang P, Zhu L, Zheng J, Li R, Ruan L, Peng D, Sun M (2011) Complete genome sequence of Bacillus subtilis BSn5, an endophytic bacterium of Amorphophallus konjac with antimicrobial activity for the plant pathogen Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora. J Bacteriol 193:2070–2071

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fouts DE, Tyler HL, DeBoy RT, Daugherty S, Ren Q, Badger JH, Durkin AS, Huot H, Shrivastava S, Kothari S, Dodson RJ, Mohamoud Y, Khouri H, Roesch LFW, Krogfelt KA, Struve C, Triplett EW, Methé BA (2008) Complete genome sequence of the N2-fixing broad host range endophyte Klebsiella pneumoniae 342 and virulence predictions verified in mice. PLoS Genet 4:e1000141

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Guan S-H, Sattler I, Lin W-H, Guo D-A, Grabley S (2005) p-Aminoacetophenonic acids produced by a mangrove endophyte: Streptomyces griseus subsp. J Nat Prod 68:1198–1200

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hallmann J, Quadt-Hallmann A, Mahaffee WF, Kloepper JW (1997) Bacterial endophytes in agricultural crops. Can J Microbiol 43:895–914

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han JI, Choi HK, Lee SW, Orwin PM, Kim J, Laroe SL, Kim TG, O’Neil J, Leadbetter JR, Lee SY, Hur CG, Spain JC, Ovchinnikova G, Goodwin L, Han C (2011) Complete genome sequence of the metabolically versatile plant growth-promoting endophyte Variovorax paradoxus S110. J Bacteriol 193:1183–1190

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hardoim PR, van Overbeek LS, Berg G, Pirttila AM, Compant S, Campisano A, Doring M, Sessitsch A (2015) The hidden world within plants: ecological and evolutionary considerations for defining functioning of microbial endophytes. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 79:293–320

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hong CE, Jo SH, Moon JY, Lee J-S, Kwon S-Y, Park JM (2015) Isolation of novel leaf-inhabiting endophytic bacteria in Arabidopsis thaliana and their antagonistic effects on phytophathogens. Plant Biotechnol Rep 9:451–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong CE, Jeong H, Jo SH, Jeong JC, Kwon SY, An D, Park JM (2016a) A leaf-inhabiting endophytic bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. KB6, enhances sweet potato resistance to black rot disease caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata. J Microbiol Biotechnol 26:488–492

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hong CE, Kwon SY, Park JM (2016b) Biocontrol activity of Paenibacillus polymyxa AC-1 against Pseudomonas syringae and its interaction with Arabidopsis thaliana. Microbiol Res 185:13–21

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hurek T, Reinhold-Hurek B (2003) Azoarcus sp. strain BH72 as a model for nitrogen-fixing grass endophytes. J Biotechnol 106:169–178

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iniguez AL, Dong Y, Triplett EW (2004) Nitrogen fixation in wheat provided by Klebsiella pneumoniae 342. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 17:1078–1085

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • James EK (2000) Nitrogen fixation in endophytic and associative symbiosis. Field Crops Res 65:197–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeong H, Jo SH, Hong CE, Park JM (2016) Genome sequence of the endophytic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis strain KB1, a potential biocontrol agent against phytopathogens. Genome Announc 4(2):e00279–16

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kaneko T, Minamisawa K, Isawa T, Nakatsukasa H, Mitsui H, Kawaharada Y, Nakamura Y, Watanabe A, Kawashima K, Ono A, Shimizu Y, Takahashi C, Minami C, Fujishiro T, Kohara M, Katoh M, Nakazaki N, Nakayama S, Yamada M, Tabata S, Sato S (2010) Complete genomic structure of the cultivated rice endophyte Azospirillum sp. B510. DNA Res 17:37–50

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kang YM, Lee CK, Cho KM (2013) Diversity and antimicrobial activity of isolated endophytic bacteria from Deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata) of different locatioins and ages. Afr J Microbiol Res 7:1015–1028

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerry BR (2000) Rhizosphere interactions and the exploitation of microbial agents for the biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes. Annu Rev Phytopathol 38:423–441

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krause A, Ramakumar A, Bartels D, Battistoni F, Bekel T, Boch J, Bohm M, Friedrich F, Hurek T, Krause L, Linke B, McHardy AC, Sarkar A, Schneiker S, Syed AA, Thauer R, Vorholter F-J, Weidner S, Puhler A, Reinhold-Hurek B, Kaiser O, Goesmann A (2006) Complete genome of the mutualistic, N2-fixing grass endophyte Azoarcus sp. strain BH72. Nat Biotechnol 24:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee SM, Chung J-H, Ryu C-M (2015) Augmenting plant immune responses and biological control by microbial determinants. Res Plant Dis 21:161–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Beatty PK, Shah S, Jensen SE (2007) Use of PCR-targeted mutagenesis to disrupt production of fusaricidin-type antifungal antibiotics in Paenibacillus polymyxa. Appl Environ Microbiol 73:3480–3489

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Liu B, Qiao H, Huang L, Buchenauer H, Han Q, Kang Z, Gong Y (2009) Biological control of take-all in wheat by endophytic Bacillus subtilis E1R-j and potential mode of action. Biol Control 49:277–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma L, Cao YH, Cheng MH, Huang Y, Mo MH, Wang Y, Yang JZ, Yang FX (2013) Phylogenetic diversity of bacterial endophytes of Panax notoginseng with antagonistic characteristics towards pathogens of root-rot disease complex. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 103:299–312

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malfanova N, Kamilova F, Validov S, Chebotar V, Lugtenberg B (2013) Is l-arabinose important for the endophytic lifestyle of Pseudomonas spp.? Arch Microbiol 195:9–17

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller CM, Miller RV, Garton-Kenny D, Redgrave B, Sears J, Condron MM, Teplow DB, Strobel GA (1998) Ecomycins, unique antimycotics from Pseudomonas viridiflava. J Appl Microbiol 84:937–944

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pedrosa FO, Monteiro RA, Wassem R, Cruz LM, Ayub RA, Colauto NB, Fernandez MA, Fungaro MHP, Grisard EC, Hungria M, Madeira HMF, Nodari RO, Osaku CA, Petzl-Erler ML, Terenzi H, Vieira LGE, Steffens MBR, Weiss VA, Pereira LFP, Almeida MIM, Alves LR, Marin A, Araujo LM, Balsanelli E, Baura VA, Chubatsu LS, Faoro H, Favetti A, Friedermann G, Glienke C, Karp S, Kava-Cordeiro V, Raittz RT, Ramos HJO, Ribeiro EMSF, Rigo LU, Rocha SN, Schwab S, Silva AG, Souza EM, Tadra-Sfeir MZ, Torres RA, Dabul ANG, Soares MAM, Gasques LS, Gimenes CCT, Valle JS, Ciferri RR, Correa LC, Murace NK, Pamphile JA, Patussi EV, Prioli AJ, Prioli SMA, Rocha CLMSC, Arantes OMN, Furlaneto MC, Godoy LP, Oliveira CEC, Satori D, Vilas-Boas LA, Watanabe MAE, Dambros BP, Guerra MP, Mathioni SM, Santos KL, Steindel M, Vernal J, Barcellos FG, Campo RJ, Chueire LMO, Nicolás MF, Pereira-Ferrari L, da Conceição Silva JL, Gioppo NMR, Margarido VP, Menck-Soares MA, Pinto FGS, Simão RdCG, Takahashi EK, Yates MG, Souza EM (2011) Genome of Herbaspirillum seropedicae strain SmR1, a specialized diazotrophic endophyte of tropical grasses. PLoS Genet 7:e1002064

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pillay VK, Nowak J (1997) Inoculum density, temperature, and genotype effects on in vitro growth promotion and epiphytic and endophytic colonization of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) seedlings inoculated with a pseudomonad bacterium. Can J Microbiol 43:354–361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ping L, Boland W (2004) Signals from the underground: bacterial volatiles promote growth in Arabidopsis. Trends Plant Sci 9:263–266

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhold-Hurek B, Hurek T (1998) Interactions of gramineous plants with Azoarcus spp. and other diazotrophs: identification, localization, and perspectives to study their function. Crit Rev Plant Sci 17:29–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhold-Hurek B, Hurek T, Gillis M, Hoste B, Vancanneyt M, Kersters K, De Ley J (1993) Azoarcus gen. nov., nitrogen-fixing proteobacteria associated with roots of Kallar Grass (Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth), and description of two species, Azoarcus indigens sp. nov. and Azoarcus communis sp. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 43:574–584

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblueth M, Martinez-Romero E (2006) Bacterial endophytes and their interactions with hosts. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 19:827–837

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblueth M, Martínez-Romero E (2004) Rhizobium etli maize populations and their competitiveness for root colonization. Arch Microbiol 181:337–344

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblueth M, Martínez-Romero E (2006) Bacterial endophytes and their interactions with hosts. Mol Plant Microbe Interact J 19:827–837

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan RP, Germaine K, Franks A, Ryan DJ, Dowling DN (2008) Bacterial endophytes: recent developments and applications. FEMS Microbiol Lett 278:1–9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz B, Boyle C (2006) Microbial root endophytes. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sevilla M, Burris RH, Gunapala N, Kennedy C (2001) Comparison of benefit to sugarcane plant growth and 15N2 Incorporation following inoculation of sterile plants with Acetobacter diazotrophicus wild-type and Nif− mutant strains. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 14:358–366

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sprent JI, James EK (1995) N2-fixation by endophytic bacteria: questions of entry and operation. In: Fendrik I, del Gallo M, Vanderleyden J, de Zamaroczy M (eds) Azospirillum VI and related microorganisms: genetics—physiology—ecology. Springer, Berlin, pp 15–30

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Strobel G, Stierle A, Stierle D, Hess W (1993) Taxomyces andreanae a proposed new taxon for a bulbilliferous hyphomycete associated with Pacific yew. Mycotaxon 47:71–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Strobel G, Daisy B, Castillo U, Harper J (2004) Natural products from endophytic microorganisms. J Nat Prod 67:257–268

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sturz VA, Christie RB, Matheson GB, Nowak J (1997) Biodiversity of endophytic bacteria which colonize red clover nodules, roots, stems and foliage and their influence on host growth. Biol Fertil Soils 25:13–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturz AV, Christie BR, Nowak J (2000) Bacterial endophytes: potential role in developing sustainable systems of crop production. Crit Rev Plant Sci 19:1–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taghavi S, Garafola C, Monchy S, Newman L, Hoffman A, Weyens N, Barac T, Vangronsveld J, van der Lelie D (2009) Genome survey and characterization of endophytic bacteria exhibiting a beneficial effect on growth and development of poplar trees. Appl Environ Microbiol 75:748–757

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taghavi S, van der Lelie D, Hoffman A, Zhang Y-B, Walla MD, Vangronsveld J, Newman L, Monchy S (2010) Genome sequence of the plant growth promoting endophytic bacterium Enterobacter sp. 638. PLoS Genet 6:e1000943

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tan Z, Hurek T, Reinhold-Hurek B (2003) Effect of N-fertilization, plant genotype and environmental conditions on nifH gene pools in roots of rice. Environ Microbiol 5:1009–1015

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weilharter A, Mitter B, Shin MV, Chain PSG, Nowak J, Sessitsch A (2011) Complete genome sequence of the plant growth-promoting endophyte Burkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN. J Bacteriol 193:3383–3384

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Y, Yang J, Dou Y, Chen M, Ping S, Peng J, Lu W, Zhang W, Yao Z, Li H, Liu W, He S, Geng L, Zhang X, Yang F, Yu H, Zhan Y, Li D, Lin Z, Wang Y, Elmerich C, Lin M, Jin Q (2008) Nitrogen fixation island and rhizosphere competence traits in the genome of root-associated Pseudomonas stutzeri A1501. Proc Natl Acad Sci 105:7564–7569

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the KRIBB initiative program to JMP funded by the Korean government (MSIP: Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125 Gwahak-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea

    Chi Eun Hong & Jeong Mee Park

  2. Department of Biosystems and Bioengineering, University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea

    Jeong Mee Park

Authors
  1. Chi Eun Hong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeong Mee Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeong Mee Park.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hong, C.E., Park, J.M. Endophytic bacteria as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens: current state-of-the-art. Plant Biotechnol Rep 10, 353–357 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11816-016-0423-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11816-016-0423-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation