Potential application of endophytic bacteria for induction of abiotic stress tolerance in plants

Abstract

Abiotic stress is one of the main problems in agriculture worldwide. Plants under abiotic stress suffer from a variety of morpho-anatomical, physiological, and biochemical changes that impact plant growth and development and have the possibility of significantly reducing the economic yield. Researchers have better-understood plant-microbe interactions under biotic and abiotic stress in the last several years. Endophytes are microorganisms that establish a symbiotic relationship with the host plant, exerting their presence without inducing any detrimental effects. Endophytic bacteria (EB) can regulate plant tolerance through different mechanisms, such as nutrient uptake, antioxidant enzyme activity, induction of plant development through phytohormones, and the synthesis of stress-responsive substances. Recent studies demonstrated that EB possesses the ability to elicit abiotic stress responses. EB has become a viable approach to augmenting agricultural yield and safeguarding plants against abiotic stresses. The present study provides an in-depth analysis of the significant EB contribution in facilitating plant growth and enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stress such as drought, salinity, temperature fluctuations, heavy metal exposure, and nutrient-deficient conditions. This review addresses the role of EB in minimizing abiotic stress in plants. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.