Plant Growth Promotion by Endophytic Bacteria in Nonnative Crop Hosts

Studies highlighting the colonization and plant growth-promoting ability of endophytic bacteria inoculated into nonnative plant hosts reviewed and presented in this chapter. Endophytic bacteria, especially those related to the genus Bacillus, Burkholderia, Enterobacter, Gluconacetobacter, Herbaspirillum, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas have been reported to form endophytic colonies in roots and shoot of nonnative plant hosts. Marker genes like green fluorescent protein have also been used widely to view the sites of colonization in real time. Apart from colonizing a nonnative plant host, these endophytic bacteria are also involved in promoting host plant growth and acting as a biocontrol agent against pathogenic fungi. Such endophytes have a great potential in future for sustainable agriculture since they could be used in a range of environmental and biological conditions.