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Abstract Plant growth and productivity are continually threatened by biotic and abiotic factors. Salinity stress and insect herbivory are among the major factors contributing to global crop yield losses. Endophytic fungi, which live asymptomatically within plant tissues, are recognized for their ability to increase plant resilience to both biotic and abiotic stresses. This review summarizes recent studies on the importance of endophytic fungi in improving plant tolerance to salinity and resistance to insect herbivores. This review covers key mechanisms underlying endophyte-mediated stress mitigation, including the regulation of ion homeostasis, the enhancement of antioxidant defense systems, and the maintenance of physiological and metabolic balance under saline conditions It also critically investigates the entomopathogenic functions of endophytic fungi, including the generation of insecticidal compounds, the release of hydrolytic enzymes that facilitate insect cuticle penetration, and the interference with insect physiological and immunological functions. Overall, the findings show that endophytic fungi are crucial for enhancing plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors.Their dual functionality in stress mitigation and pest suppression highlights their value in developing sustainable, resilient crop production systems. Integrating endophytic fungi into crop management practices offers a promising strategy to increase productivity and stability under increasing environmental challenges. Future research should prioritize identifying the molecular mechanisms through which endophyte colonization improves plant resistance to environmental stress.
Kiran et al. (Tue,) studied this question.