Summary
This narrative review synthesises current knowledge on fungal endophytes as agents of sustainable crop management, cataloguing 180 secondary metabolites according to their bioactive properties (insecticidal, antifungal, nematicidal, antibacterial, and phytotoxic). Whilst fungal endophytes show considerable promise for integrated crop protection through biocontrol, the authors note that mechanistic understanding of plant–microbe symbiosis and chemical characterisation of metabolites remain incomplete. The review emphasises the potential of next-generation sequencing and metagenomics to guide future bioprospecting efforts and elucidate complex plant–microbe interactions.
Regional applicability
Whilst the review is not geographically specific, the identified endophytic fungi and their metabolites may have broad applicability to United Kingdom crop systems seeking to reduce synthetic pesticide dependency. Transferability will depend on local climatic conditions, crop types, and soil microbial communities; field validation would be required before deployment in British farming contexts.
Key measures
Classification of 180 endophytic fungal metabolites by biological activity category; discussion of mechanisms of plant–microbe symbiosis; evaluation of potential for biocontrol and disease suppression applications
Outcomes reported
This review compiled and characterised 180 fungal endophyte metabolites according to their biological activities (insecticidal, antifungal, phytotoxic, nematicidal and antibacterial). The paper summarises recent advances in endophytic fungal research and identifies their potential applications as biocontrol agents within integrated crop protection strategies.
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