The need to study the holobiome for gainful uses of endophytes

It is established that endophytes (bacteria and fungi) affect positively several traits of their host plants including growth, nutrient acquisition, and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors. Owing to this, endophytes are envisaged as a route to improve sustainable agricultural production. However, such effects of endophytes on crops although evident under lab conditions, are devoid of consistency under field conditions. The main reason for this could be the lack of our understanding of the functioning of the endophytes as a consortium within the plant (holobiome). It is essential to study the complex web of interactions which operate in the inner tissues of plants harboring endophytes. I highlight here, alluding to the work on foliar fungal endophytes, the importance of studying endophytes as a consortium rather than merely as one species in isolation to better appreciate their role in the plant holobiome. Such an approach should aid in harnessing the technological potential of endophytes.