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.

可以确定的是，内生菌（细菌和真菌）会积极影响其寄主植物的多个性状，包括生长，营养获取以及对非生物和生物胁迫的耐受性。因此，设想将内生菌作为改善可持续农业生产的途径。但是，内生菌对农作物的这种影响尽管在实验室条件下很明显，但在田间条件下却缺乏一致性。造成这种现象的主要原因可能是我们缺乏对内生菌作为植物内的联合体（全息生物组）的功能的了解。研究在具有内生菌的植物的内部组织中起作用的相互作用的复杂网络至关重要。我在这里重点介绍叶面真菌内生菌的研究，研究内生菌作为一个联盟而不是仅仅作为一种物种进行研究的重要性，以便更好地了解它们在植物全基因组中的作用。这种方法应有助于利用内生菌的技术潜力。