Plant Growth-Promoting Potentials of Endophytic Fungi for the Management of Agricultural Crops and Grasses

This chapter features the impetus to study endophytic fungi (EF) in order to invigorate the economic feasibility in agriculture production. EF occupy a dominant place in the habitat adaptation of plants leveraging better yields and protection from biotic as well as abiotic stresses. They secrete several secondary metabolites of organic nature, which, besides safeguarding plants from pathogens and pests, also valorize agricultural plants like rice and corn, and offer better postharvest management. It is emphasized that the methods currently employed in plant breeding, seed preparation, and agricultural practices are hindering the diversity of fungal endophytes due to the inadequate knowledge about them. Besides, they also make some endophytes to perform ineffectively in mitigating stresses. The objective of this chapter is to suggest how to overcome such impediments for the advancement of future agriculture practices.