Alexandre Tenório

Yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa) is a fruit native to tropical America and widely produced in Brazil. Although the country is considered the world’s largest producer, it is not among the largest exporters, as domestic consumption exceeds production. One commonly addressed issue is obtaining good quality seedlings, with a need to find sustainable alternatives for their production. Complex adaptive mechanisms have been developed by plants over the course of evolution, many of which are only possible thanks to interactions with microorganisms, particularly endophytes. Endophytic microorganisms are potentially useful to agriculture and industry. Several selected species of endophytes, such as bacteria, have potential for use in the agricultural pesticide industry, in addition to being used as genetic vectors. Interest in the use of endophytes in agricultural practices such as promoting plant growth and biological control of pests and plant diseases, among other applications, has grown, as they are believed to be potential substitutes for chemicals in nature.