Bacterial endophytes in sustainable agriculture: perspectives and advancements as biostimulants and fungal biocontrol agents in crops

Agricultural intensification, to meet the nutritional needs of the growing world population, has been made possible through the extensive use of agrochemicals, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. However, these practices pose significant health and environmental risks, including groundwater contamination, soil degradation and microbial resistance. Also, predictions indicate that relying solely on synthetic chemicals to boost production may not be enough to meet the future global need for food. Sustainable agricultural intensification involves the use of novel tools to enhance production while addressing environmental concerns using eco-friendly strategies, such as microbial inoculants. These can improve soil fertility, nutrient cycling and crop yield, while enhancing stress tolerance and overall crop fitness. This review outlines the key aspects of the global presence of plant diseases, plant defense responses and disease management strategies, and examines bacterial endophytes as crop biostimulants and biocontrol agents for sustainable control of mycotoxigenic fungi. It also proposes strategies to increase microbial product adoption by addressing technical limitations, such as field stability, delivery precision and shelf-life.