Recruitment of bacterial endophytes by host plants

Plants coupled with endophytic bacteria hold great potential for the remediation of polluted environments. The colonization patterns and activities of inoculated endophytes in the rhizosphere and endosphere of host plant are among the primary factors that may influence the phytoremediation process. However, these patterns and activities are in turn controlled by none other than the host plant itself.
        The plant endosphere contains diverse groups of microbial communities. There is general consensus that these communities make significant contributions to plant health. Endophytes are microbial symbionts residing within the plant for the majority of their life cycle without any detrimental impact on the host plant. The use of these natural symbionts however, offers an opportunity to maximize crop productivity. Endophytes promote plant growth through; nitrogen fixation, phytohormone production, nutrient acquisition, and by conferring tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Colonization by these endophytes is crucial for providing their benefits to the host plants. Endophytic colonization refers to the entry; growth and multiplication of endophytic populations within the host plant. Although, plant microbiome research has gained considerable attention lately; however, the mechanism that allows plants to recruit endophytes is largely unknown.