Endophytes associated with boswellia species: Developments and prospects

Abstract

The mutual aid between endophytes and their host floras allows changes in plant physiological and metabolic functions. Endophytic fungi interact with their host plants by means of diverse modes of action that mainly involve controlling various physiological and mechanical mechanisms for their better endurance. They establish a vital niche within the host plants by secreting chemical components. The association of endophytes with Boswellia species has been well discovered and researched. Several fungi associated with twigs, leaves, and stems of Boswellia species have been reported. Maximum research studies described endophytic microbes associated with B. sacra and B. serrata. The microbial endophyte community of Boswellia species is kind of less. Endophytic fungal strains, such as Penicillium citrinum, P. spinulosum, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus caespitosus, Preussia sp., Phoma medicaginis, Thielavia arenaria, Dothideomycetes sp., Aureobasidium sp., etc., have been recognized using genomic DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic investigation. Several of them were identified to produce secondary metabolites, and few produced different kinds of extracellular enzymes like phosphatase, cellulases, zylanase, etc. Likewise, different phytohormones, such as auxins secreted by endophytes associated with Boswellia species improved the plant growth dynamics and physiology. In addition, they have significantly enhanced the development of phyllospheric parts of Boswellia species, and improved tolerance against pathogenic attacks. This chapter aims to elucidate the diversity of endophytic microbe in Boswellia species and their beneficial role in the plant growth and development. © 2023 Apple Academic Press, Inc. All rights reserved.