Endophytic Fungi for Stress Tolerance

Abiotic stress can be defined as the deleterious effects of non-living factors on living organisms in specific environments. The four major abiotic stresses that plants face are salinity, drought, temperature, and heavy metals. Although plants have complex and dynamic systems to respond to stress stimuli, abiotic stress is the most harmful factor concerning the growth and productivity of crops worldwide. Research has also shown that abiotic stresses are at their most harmful when they occur together, in combinations of abiotic stress factors. Recently, endophytes have emerged as an important tool to combat the problem of abiotic stresses in plant species. The present chapter summarizes the various types of abiotic tolerance provided by endophytes to plant species and their mode of action.