Plant–Endophytic Bacterial Diversity for Production of Useful Metabolites and Their Effect on Environmental Parameters

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Endophytic bacteria subsist inside plant tissues either in symbiotic or mutualistic relationships with their host plant. Endophytic bacteria can promote plant growth as well as can be used as biocontrol agents. Endophytic bacteria produce various types of secondary metabolites that can be used in medicine, agriculture, or industry. Genomic profiling of endophytic bacterial species has increased rapidly since the past decade and specific regions of DNA (genetic markers) are being used to identify up to species level as well as to study their evolutionary relationship. Hence, DNA-based molecular markers such as 16S rRNA, RAPD, rep-PCR (BOX-PCR & ERIC-PCR) have proved to be useful for the identification of endophytic bacteria up to species level and to establish genetic relatedness among the isolates. In phytoremediation, endophytic microorganisms have contributed significantly to the removal of hazardous waste and the degradation of organic compounds from the environment. During the last decade, this group of microorganisms has been targeted for the reduction of several pollutants, volatile organic compounds, crude oils, and radionuclides. Endophytes possess a metal sequestration system that can decrease the toxicity of metals and affect metal translocation to aboveground plant parts. Endophytic bacteria has shown the potential for the degradation of herbicides, pesticides (organochlorine-lindane), heavy metals, nitroaromatics, 2, 4, 6 trinitrotoluene (TNT), BTEX, and aromatic compounds. This chapter describes the potential exist in endophytic bacteria and their identification, and will highlight the major compounds obtained from this group along with their role in the degradation of pollutants. There is a need to engineer these organisms to enhance their efficacy to degrade the environment pollutants from contaminated places.