Bakteri Endofit: Mikroba Tersembunyi sebagai Agen Hayati Pendukung Kesehatan dan Ketahanan Tanaman

Abstract

Plant health is determined by complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors, while plant pathogens remain a major threat to plant growth and productivity. Excessive use of pesticides for disease control poses risks to non-target organisms and disrupts the balance and sustainability of agroecosystems. Therefore, an environmentally friendly and sustainable control alternative is needed. One of the most promising microorganisms is endophytic bacteria, which colonize plant tissues without causing disease symptoms. Endophyte bacteria can promote plant growth and resistance through the production of phythohormones, increased nutrient availability, and enhanced tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition, endophyte bacteria play a role in enhancing plant defense responses and suppressing disease development by producing antibiotics, siderophores, enzymes that degrade the walls of pathogenic cells, and inducing systemic resistance. The ability of endophyte bacteria to colonize various host plants enables them to serve a broad spectrum of applications in agriculture. Through these mechanisms, endophyte bacteria have the potential to be developed as biological agents to support crop health and to realize sustainable agricultural systems.