Bacterial Endophytes and Their Effects on Plants and Uses in Agriculture

Although the term endophyte is most commonly associated with fungal organisms, there is sufficient literature pertaining to bacteria as endophytes, some of which are regarded to have a beneficial effect, while others are regarded to have a neutral or detrimental effect on plants. The recent increase in publications on bacterial endophytes reflects an interest in their potential benefit to agriculture. This chapter will focus on major themes and issues surrounding bacterial endophytes and their potential use in agriculture.