This review explores the diverse applications and therapeutic potential of endophytic microbes, emphasizing both fungal and bacterial endophytes. These microorganisms reside within plant tissues without causing harm and play an important role in enhancing plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and resistance to pathogens. They produce phytohormones, facilitate nutrient uptake, solubilize essential nutrients, fix nitrogen, and improve stress tolerance. Furthermore, endophytes contribute to agricultural sustainability by producing plant growth regulators, providing biocontrol against pathogens through antimicrobial compounds, and competing for resources. Integrating endophytic microbes into agricultural practices can reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promoting eco-friendly and sustainable farming. This review highlights the dual role of endophytic microbes in fostering sustainable agriculture and providing novel therapeutic applications. By minimizing dependence on chemical inputs, endophytes support environmental health while boosting crop yields. The synthesis underscores the importance of leveraging endophytic microbes to tackle global food security and sustainability challenges.

The increasing global demand for petroleum oils has led to a significant increase in their cost and has led to the search for renewable alternative waste resources for biodiesel synthesis and production using novel environmentally sound and acceptable methods. In the current study, Kocuria flava lipase was immobilized on Fe₃O₄/cellulose nanocomposite; and used as a biocatalyst for the conversion of cooking oil wastes into biodiesel through the transesterification/esterification process. The characterization of Fe₃O₄/cellulose nanocomposite revealed several functional groups including carboxyl (C=O) and epoxy (C-O-C) groups that act as multipoint covalent binding sites between the lipase and the Fe₃O₄/cellulose nanocomposite and consequently increasing lipase immobility and stability. The immobilized lipase showed a high thermo-stability as it retained about 70% of its activity at 80 °C after 30 min. The kinetics of immobilized lipase revealed that the K_m and V_max values were 0.02 mM and 32.47 U/mg protein, respectively. Moreover, the immobilized lipase showed high stability and reusability for transesterification/esterification reactions for up to four cycles with a slight decline in the enzyme activity. Furthermore, the produced biodiesel characteristics were compatible with the standards, indicating that the biodiesel obtained is doable and may be utilized in our daily life as a diesel fuel.

The current study aimed to investigate the potentiality of yeast isolate Rhodotorula toruloides Y1124 to be used as a feedstock for biodiesel production, and the reutilization of the de-oiled yeast biomass wastes as a biosorbent for the biosorption of Congo red from aquatic solutions was investigated. From screening results, eight yeast isolates were referred to as oleaginous microorganisms, of which yeast isolate Rhodotorula toruloides Y1124 was the highest lipid-accumulating isolate and was used as a feedstock for biodiesel production. The highest lipid accumulation (64.8%) was significantly dependent on the glucose concentration, pH, and incubation temperature according to Plackett–Burman and central composite design results. Under optimized conditions, the estimated amount of biodiesel synthesis from Rhodotorula toruloides biomass represented 82.12% of total analytes. The most prevalent fatty acid methyl esters were hexadecanoic and 11-octadecenoic, comprising 30.04 and 39.36% of total methyl esters which were compatible with plant oils. The optimum biosorption conditions for Congo red removal were pH 6, a 15 min contact time, and an initial dye concentration of 40 mg L⁻¹. The biosorption isothermal and kinetics fitted well with the Langmuir model and the maximal biosorption capacity (q_max) was 81.697 mg g⁻¹. Therefore, the current study may offer a sustainable feedstock with potential viability for both the synthesis of biodiesel and the removal of organic dyes.

Potato peel wastes are generated in high quantities from potato processing industries. They are pollutants to the environment, and they release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The present study assessed the potentiality of hydrolyzing potato wastes by amylase-producing fungi to improve biogas generation from potato peels through the anaerobic digestion process. Different fungal isolates were screened for amylase production on potato wastes, and the highest amylase producer was selected for optimizing the efficacy of producing amylases in high quantities to efficiently allow the conversion of potato organic matter into fermentable sugars that are utilized for the anaerobic digestion process. The best amylase producers were those derived from Rhizopus stolonifer (32.61 ± 0.89 U/mL). The highest cumulative methane yield from hydrolyzed potato peel was 65.23 ± 3.9 mL CH₄/g and the methane production rate was 0.39 mL CH₄/h, whereas the highest biogas yield from unhydrolyzed potato wastes was 41.32 ± 2.15 mL CH₄/g and the biogas production rate was 0.25 mL CH₄/h. Furthermore, it was found that the two combined sequential stages of anaerobic digestion (biogas production) followed by biodiesel production (enzymatic esterification) were the most effective, recording 72.36 ± 1.85 mL CH₄/g and 64.82% biodiesel of the total analytes. However, one-pot fermentation revealed that biogas yield was 22.83 ± 2.8 mL CH₄/g and the biodiesel extracted was 23.67% of the total analytes. The insights of the current paper may increase the feasibility of potato peel-based biorefinery through the biological hydrolysis strategy of potato wastes using eco-friendly enzymes.

Excessive utilization of chemical fertilizers can disrupt soil fertility, with specific concern regarding the contamination of soil by phosphate fertilizers. This contamination poses risks to the environment, affecting soil, air, and water quality. Countries relying heavily on chemical fertilizers in their agricultural practices are particularly susceptible to this escalating environmental issue. However, the introduction of natural products derived from endophytic microbes offers a novel approa

Salinization induced by salt stress is a critical environmental factor, and limits the expansion of agricultural areas and population distribution in continental regions, including Saudi Arabia. Common beans, a vital source of protein, energy, and dietary fibers, are negatively affected by salt stress. In this research, the endophytic fungus Cladosporium halotolerans was utilized to remediate saline soils and enhance common bean growth and resilience. The results of this study demonstrated that soil treatment with C. halotolerans enhances the soil properties by decreasing soil pH and increasing soil organic matter content under saline conditions. Inoculation by C. halotolerans also significantly improved plant growth parameters, induced systemic resistance to salinity, and increased the levels of chlorophyll b and carotenoids. Fungal inoculation also causes stress relief as indicated by reducing malondialdehyde concentration by 27.4% lower than stressed plants. Microscopic images revealed the active association and colonization of C. halotolerans within the roots of the Phaseolus vulgaris both under control and saline conditions. Therefore, utilizing endophytic fungi C. halotolerans for saline soil remediation appears to be a promising alternative in plant treatments, highlighting their potential as valuable resources for both research and commercial applications under salinity stress.