Leveraging unseen microbes as partners in progress

What is an endophyte?

Endophytes are microbes that live inside the plant system to help the plant uptake nutrients.

Endophytes help plants tolerate toxic environments, helping their host tolerate stress by reducing toxicity or changing the way the plant absorbs harmful substances.

Plants and endophytes have a mutualistic relationship: the plant provides food for the bacteria and a safe home inside the plant tissue. In return, the endophytes can boost plant cell growth, improve disease resistance, and provide specific nutrients to the plant.