Special Issues
Table of Content

Endophytic Microbiota: Prospects and Challenges for Application Towards Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Management

Submission Deadline: 15 March 2026 View: 1214 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Prof. Dr. Ahmed M. Abel-Azeem

Email: Ahmed_abdelazeem@science.suez.edu.eg

Affiliation: 1 Research Institute of University of the Bucharest (ICUB), University of Bucharest, Romania

2 Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt

Homepage:

Research Interests: endophytes, taxonomy of fungi, microbial secondary metabolites, plant-microbe interactions, PGP

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Assist. Prof. Lobna Hajji-Hedfi

Email: lobna.hajji@iresa.agrinet.tn

Affiliation: Regional Centre of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid, CRRA, Gafsa Road Km 6, B.P. 357, 9100, Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia

Homepage:

Research Interests: sustanable agriculture, endophytic microbota, PGP, microbial enzymes, fungal plant diseases

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Dr. Yousra A. El-Maradny

Email: hiph.YMaradny@alexu.edu.eg

Affiliation: Pharmaceutical and Fermentation Industries Development Center, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria, 21934, Egypt

Homepage:

Research Interests: application of microbiota in phramaceutica, environmental and agricultural applications, fermentation, secondary metabolities, molecular biology

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Summary

This Special Issue aims to display advances in endophytic research and various aspects of functional applications in sustainable agriculture and environmental management. We welcome submissions that explore the multifaceted roles of endophytic microorganisms, covering (but not limited to) the following topics:

· Deciphering endophytic microbial strains in abiotic stress management;
· Applications and limitations of the endophytic microbiome in pre and postharvest disease management and commercial-scale production;
· Diversity and functional attributes of endophytic microbiomes;
· Multifaceted interactions between endophytes and plants: prospects in sustainable agriculture;
· Endophytic microbiome applications in managing environmental contamination;
· Endophytic microorganisms as biocontrol agents and disease resistance in the host plant;
· Microbial endophyte's roles in phytostimulation and improving nutrient acquisition in agriculture;
· Mechanisms of fungal and bacterial endophyte-plant interactions;
· Plant metabolites and bioactive compounds derived from endophytes;
· Bioprospecting endophytes for biostimulants and agricultural applications;
· Applications of endophytes in stress tolerance and crop resilience;
· Novel endophyte-based approaches for climate-smart agriculture;
· Endophytic microbiota: symbiotic bioresource for production of plant secondary metabolites;
· Endophytic microbiota and their role in postharvest disease management;
· Microbial endophytes and their bioactive compounds for sustainable agriculture;
· Omics-Based approaches in studying microbial endophytes and their associated secondary metabolites;
· Untapped bioactive compounds from endophytic microbiota with potential antioxidant activity;
· Genetic, epigenetic, and physicochemical strategies to improve the agricultural potential of microbial endophytes endophytic microbiota for microbial phytoremediation: prospects for agricultural and environmental sustainability.


We invite researchers and experts to contribute their findings to this Special Issue, helping to advance our understanding of endophytic microorganisms and their potential to move towards a more sustainable and efficient agricultural system and environmental sustainability.


Keywords

sustainable agriculture, biotic stress, endophytic microbiota, climate change, sustainable development goals, plant-microbe interactions.

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Keystone Fungal Endophytes of Panax Plants Drive the Conversion of Ginsenoside Rb1 to Rd

    Ruikang Ma, Guangfei Wei, Songzi Li, Tongle Li, Fugang Wei, Yong Wang, Guozhuang Zhang, Linlin Dong
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.075657
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Endophytic Microbiota: Prospects and Challenges for Application Towards Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Management)
    Abstract Keystone taxa are critical for microbial community homeostasis and ecological niche interactions. However, the functions and genomic traits of endophytic keystone fungi in plant tissues remain unclear. Via network analysis, this study identified keystone fungi Plectosphaerella (Plec) and Cladosporium (Clad) in roots/leaves of medicinal Panax plants (P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius, P. notoginseng). Both correlated strongly positively with ginsenoside Rd content in respective tissues (ρ > 0.6, p < 0.001). Co-cultivation confirmed their ability to convert ginsenoside Rb1 to Rd, linked to β-glucosidase activity. Whole-genome sequencing/assembly/evolutionary analysis of the two strains elucidated genomic features for their keystone roles and saponin biotransformation. More >

    Graphic Abstract

    Keystone Fungal Endophytes of <i>Panax</i> Plants Drive the Conversion of Ginsenoside Rb1 to Rd

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Growth and Yield Responses of Soledad Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to the Application of Chitosan and Bacillus subtilis

    Adolfo Amador Mendoza, Rosalba Guadalupe Gomez Raymundo, Ana Rosa Ramírez Seañez, Hipolito Hernández Hernández, Rogelio Enrrique Palacios Torres, Nelda Xanath Martínez Galero, Miguel Ángel García Muñoz, Saribel Zilli Gutiérrez
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073856
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Endophytic Microbiota: Prospects and Challenges for Application Towards Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Management)
    Abstract The cultivation of Soledad pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is essential in Oaxaca and Veracruz, but it faces issues with pests and diseases, which affect yield and cause economic losses. To mitigate these impacts, farmers have started using biostimulants such as chitosan and plant growth promoting bacteria instead of agrochemicals due to their environmental and health benefits. This study evaluated the effect of Bacillus subtilis and chitosan, both individually and combined, on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of Soledad pepper under greenhouse conditions. Four treatments were applied at different stages of the crop cycle: Q (Chitosan), BS (Bacillus More >

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