Endophytic Microflora of Crotalaria: Their Diversity and Role in Plant Growth Promotion

The endophytic microflora of Crotalaria constitute a heterogeneous community of beneficial microorganisms that colonize healthy tissues of the host plant without causing any apparent harm. The microflora play a crucial role in promoting plant growth, nutrient gain, and resilience to various biotic and abiotic stresses. This review highlights the range of endophytic microorganisms that reside in Crotalaria tissues, providing insights on the methods of detection and the role played by endophytes in promoting host plant growth. Diverse groups of endophytes ranging from bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes colonize internal organs of Crotalaria species. Key findings indicate that Crotalaria-associated endophytes, including species of Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Burkholderia, and Methylobacterium, exhibit plant growth-promoting traits such as nitrogen fixation, phytohormone production, phosphate solubilization, and resistance to abiotic stresses. Additionally, some endophytes produce metabolites that serve as biocontrol agents, protecting Crotalaria against phytopathogens. This review offers valuable insights for future exploitation of endophytic microflora of Crotalaria in enhancing crop productivity and stress tolerance.