9 - Endophytic actinomycetes in bioactive compounds production and plant defense system

Abstract

Endophytic actinomycetes colonizing inside plant tissue have received much attention due to their potential use in stimulation of plant growth as well as in the management of soil and plant survival by producing certain functional metabolites and simultaneously counteracting pathogenic microbes residing within same plant species. Advancement in the “omics” technology such as computational biology, metabolic engineering, and proteomics has provided an efficient way to unravel mechanisms behind revelation of biosynthesis of these bioactive compounds and also provided efficient ways for the identification of gene clusters form unexplored actinomycetes. Plethora of researches on endophytic microorganisms has evidenced the existence of new and untouched endophytic actinomycetes producing discrete bioactive compounds within distinct tissues of several medicinal plants. Howbeit, till date sporadic reports are available on their biodiversity, phylogenetic distribution, and their probable association with traditional plants along with their specific environments. This chapter mainly focuses on different protective and signaling mechanisms used by the endophytic actinomycetes to promote plant growth and soil health. The chapter also examines the current biochemical status of endophytic actinomycetes and intervention of “omics” approaches used in revealing their full potential and lastly, it also sharpens the knowledge about newly discovered potential bioactive compounds and their possible exploitation by agricultural and pharmaceutical industries.