Endophytes as a Sustainable Strategy for Crop Improvement in the Face of Climate Change in Vietnam

Abstract

Vietnam’s agriculture is facing significant challenges from climate change, including drought, floods, salinity intrusion, etc. which threaten productivity and sustainability. This requires strategies to help crops combat these negative impacts and move towards sustainable agriculture. This review will explore endophytes-beneficial microorganisms that live within plants as a key solution to help Vietnamese agriculture improve productivity and combat climate change. Endophytes have been demonstrated to promote plant growth, improve nutrient uptake, and enhance resistance to extreme environmental conditions caused by biotic and abiotic stresses. Some strains also provide biocontrol properties that help plants resist common plant diseases and pests, thereby reducing dependence on industrial chemicals. This article summarizes studies on the isolation, characterization, and application of endophytes in Vietnamese agriculture. This approach represents a forward-looking step toward building a sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural framework in the context of a changing climate.