Abstract

ENDOPHYTES: A PROMISING ENZYME PRODUCER

T. M. Shivani and Mythili Sathiavelu*

Abstract

Microorganisms which asymptomatically exist in plant’s different stages of growth and development are Endophytes. By actively encouraging their growth or indirectly preventing the growth of plant pathogens, endophytic microbes are beneficial to plants. These are present in plants and give them added resources to subsist with various stressful environments through the incorporation of beneficial bioactive compounds, providing with nourished components and various enzymes. Some major enzymes produced by endophytes include Protease, Pectinase, Amylase, Asparginase, Xylanase, Chitinase, Laccase, Lipase and so on. Agar-based screening of microbes is used to observe and confirm the existence of the enzymewhen each organism is permitted to grow with a particular substrate for every enzyme. Apart from enzyme production, endophytes also play a major role in growth promotion of host plant by synthesis of various phytohormones and by solubilizing various macro-nutrients. Each enzyme is unique and owns industrial and pharmaceutical applications. This review explains the sources of endophytes, enzyme types, screening of particular enzymes and insights into further studies.

Keywords: Endophytic microbes, Enzymes, Agar-based screening, Plant sources, Screening media.