Colonization Mechanism of Endophytes with Plants and Their Role in Pesticides Degradation

Endophytes are beneficial microorganisms that reside within plant tissues, playing a vital role in plant growth and stress tolerance. Endophytes successfully colonize host plants by employing a range of mechanisms, including cell wall modification, modulation of phytohormones, secretion of effector proteins, and the production of antioxidants. Certain endophytes can efficiently break down specific pollutants such as pesticides in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere. These microbes metabolize pesticides or alter their chemical structures using several enzymatic, genetic, or metabolic pathways. This review examines the underlying colonization mechanism of endophytes in plants, as well as their significance in pesticide degradation. The available data will raise many new questions about endophytic colonization dynamics, regulation of different genes involved in establishing endophytic associations and their role in pesticide degradation with a sustainable research perspective.