Endophytic Microbiome and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria: Roles, Interactions, and Applications for Sustainable Plant Growth

The study of plant-associated microbiomes has expanded significantly, with endophytes, comprising archaea, bacteria, fungi (including moulds and yeasts), and viruses, recognized for their intricate and often beneficial relationships with their host plants. While bacterial and fungal endophytes are relatively well-characterized, the roles of viruses and other less-studied microbes remain unclear, partly due to past ambiguities in classification and limitations in detection methods. Recent advances in omics technologies, particularly next-generation sequencing, have unveiled a remarkable diversity and complexity within plant endophytic communities, including their pivotal roles in plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and stress resistance through metabolic exchange. Nevertheless, major gaps persist in understanding the full spectrum of microbial functions, the mechanisms underlying plant–microbe interactions, and the ways farming practices may alter these communities or their roles in plant health. Controversies remain regarding the extent and specificity of symbiosis, the drivers of coevolution, and the impact of viral endophytes, which can be both beneficial and detrimental.This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of the diversity, function, and symbiotic integrations of endophytic microbiomes in plants, particularly their interactions with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). By characterizing these microbial communities and elucidating their roles in promoting plant growth, enhancing resilience, and mediating disease resistance, the research aims to uncover novel mechanisms and relationships that can be harnessed for sustainable agriculture. Key objectives include exploring how endophytes and PGPR work individually and together to benefit plants, determining the impact of agricultural practices on these associations, and identifying new, beneficial microbial taxa or functions that may inform future crop management and disease control strategies.Within the framework of plant microbiome research, this topic specifically focuses on the characterization and functional analysis of endophytic microbial communities (archaea, bacteria, fungi, and viruses) and their interactions with PGPR, with an emphasis on sustainability and agricultural application. Studies on both cultivated and wild plant species are included, but the primary limitation is on the integration of endophytes and PGPR rather than other types of plant-microbe associations. To gather further insights in these areas, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Diversity and taxonomy of endophytic archaea, bacteria, fungi, and viruses• Functional roles of endophytes and PGPR in plant health, growth, and stress tolerance• Mechanisms and outcomes of endophyte–PGPR and endophyte–plant interactions• Impact of farming practices and environmental variables on endophytic and PGPR communities• Discovery of novel endophytes and characterization of their metabolites• Endophytic viral communities, their functions, and roles in plant resilience• Symbiogenesis, coevolution, and genomic integration in endophytic microbiomes• Translational approaches for leveraging endophytes and PGPR to improve crop sustainabilityWe encourage the submission of original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and methods papers relevant to this Research Topic. Volume II of this Research Topic is scheduled to open in early 2027. Please check back for updates. Topic editors: Tofazzal Islam, Munagala S Reddy, Abhinav Aeron Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78364/endophytic-microbiome-and-plant-growth-promoting-rhizobacteria-roles-interactions-and-applications-for-sustainable-plant-growth