Endophytes are bacterial and fungal microorganisms that colonize plants without usually eliciting visible disease symptoms but establishing intricate and mutually beneficial interactions with their host plant. This can lead to an increase in plant vigour, growth, development, and changes in plant metabolism. Endophytes may assist in the development of more productive and sustainable agricultural practices or discoveries of novel pharmacologicals. These elusive organisms are often overlooked and their benefits underrated. Endophytes can support plants in a variety of ways to cope with biotic and abiotic stress factors, such as drought, heat, pest and diseases. They can produce particular metabolites, facilitate access to nutrients, change the plant's chemistry, physiology and responses, or by a combination of these factors. The biosynthetic pathways present in endophytes alone or in combinations with the plant's, can lead to novel chemicals, with yet undiscovered pharmacological characteristics. With state-of-the-art knowledge on their discovery and roles, this book describes the diversity of endophytes, their value, exploitation and future challenges. Key features: Provides an overview of the endophytes that are encountered in nature. Demonstrates the beneficial effects of endophytes together with their practical applications in agriculture. Explores how endophytes are valuable candidates for research on future drugs and biopesticides. This title is a valuable resource for students and researchers in plant science and plant pathology as well as those working in the pharmaceutical and pesticide industries.

"[The book]...provides a balanced picture of the possibilities and advantages, as well as the challenges, that use of biological crop protection entails... For anyone involved in the microbial bioprotectants space, this is a comprehensive resource you won't want to miss out on. It includes practical yet academic-led discussion and examples that help establish the roadmap for this section of the bioag sector."(BioAgWorld) "This book provides a plethora of knowledge on the biological fight against plant diseases. It's a must have for everyone involved in plant science."(Arie Dwarswaard, Greenity) "The authors provide an overview of beneficial microorganisms against plant pathogens, with a focus on product development, authorisation and application in practice. The book is a source of knowledge and inspiration for researchers, product developers, policy makers and growers."(Doriet Willemen, Gewasbescherming) With growing concerns about the environmental impact of synthetic fungicides, increasing levels of fungicide resistance and increasing regulatory restrictions on fungicide use, the crop protection sector faces mounting pressure to replace synthetic fungicides with more environmentally-friendly biological alternatives for disease control. Microbial bioprotectants for plant disease management provides a comprehensive coverage of the recent advances in the development of more ecologically balanced biological methods to control plant diseases. The collection offers a focussed review on the availability and use of bacterial, fungal and viral bioprotectants, as well as the issues that arise with their development and use. Edited by two world-renowned figures in the field, Microbial bioprotectants for plant disease management will be a standard reference point for researchers in crop protection and agronomy; government and private sector agencies involved in sustainable agriculture; agrochemical companies manufacturing/selling crop protection products; agronomists and farmers wanting to broaden their knowledge on bioprotectants.