Introduction In the realm of agriculture and plant health management, the quest for sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional methods has never been more pressing. Rapid global population growth and rising food demands exert immense pressure on agricultural systems. Plant health is vital not only for food security but also for providing raw materials such as wood, textiles, medicines, and bioenergy. Insect pests and plant pathogens cause substantial losses in both yield and quality, leading to major economic damage. Globally, crop plants experience 20–40% annual yield losses due to pests and diseases (Savary et al., 2019). For ages, numerous methods have been exploited to increase food production, many of which are unsustainable since they pose risks to the environment (Sahu and Mishra, 2021). Reducing ecological risks and exploring beneficial endophytic microbes can support ecosystem stability and healthier crop production. Endophytes help suppress pests and pathogens while promoting plant growth. Among them, endophytic fungi have gained particular attention. They represent a promising group of microorganisms. These fungi hold significant potential to transform modern sustainable agriculture. Role of Endophytes in plant protection Endophytes are microorganisms that reside within plant tissues without causing harm to the host. They effectively colonize roots and enhance overall plant growth and vigor. Endophytes act as natural biocontrol agents, protecting plants from insect pests and pathogens. Endophytes capable of producing several growth hormones such as IAA, ACC deaminase, increased in uptake of K ions in plant tissues, and decreased ethylene level are an alternate mechanism to alleviate stress conditions in various plants (Fan et al., 2020). They are also able to improve the uptake of nutrients such as nitrogen, magnesium, zinc, sulphur, and phosphorus from soil and provide to the host plant for better growth and survival (Agri et al., 2021). Bioactive compounds derived from endophytes are increasingly explored as alternatives to chemical pesticides. These biologically based products are valued for their biodegradability and environmental safety. Endophyte-derived biopesticides exhibit high specificity toward target insect pests and pathogens. They also play an important role in managing and delaying fungicide and insecticide resistance. Growing interest focuses on metabolites from endophytes for pest control programs. Such compounds reduce dependence on synthetic chemicals. They offer effective and sustainable solutions for pest and disease management. Thus, endophyte-based products represent promising alternatives to conventional pesticides (Ravindran et al., 2018). Applications of endophytes to control insect pest and pathogens Diab et al. (2023) reported that the toxicity of Streptomyces sp. ES2 to Spodoptera littoralis, and the morphological defects and histopathological deformities may be attributed to its unique mixture of several compounds with special regard to cyromazine (a molt inhibitor), 4-nitrophenol, and diazinon as major constituents. Whole genome analysis and secondary metabolite characterization have acknowledged Burkholderia contaminans NZ as a good biocontrol agent against Macrophomina phaseolina in jute, through melanin synthesis and pyrrolnitrin inhibition (Zaman et al., 2021). Endophytic colonization of maize plants by Metarhizium robertsii promoted plant growth and altered defense gene expression in maize, and suppressed growth rate of black cutworm larvae (Ahmad et al., 2020). Abdullah et al. (2019) proved that the ethyl acetate extract of Beauveria bassiana culture had high an insecticidal activity against cotton leafworm and cotton aphids followed by Trichoderma harzianum on Magnoporthe grisea. Mycoparasitism is the primary mechanism employed by an endophyte, Lecanicillium spp. to reduce diseases caused by powdery mildew as well as various rust fungi (Ownley et al., 2010). Suciatmih and Rashmansyah (2013) isolated 22 endophytic fungal isolates associated with mangrove plant from Bunaken Island, Indonesia that were antagonist to Fusarium oxysporum - the wilt causing pathogen. Three of them produced volatile antifungal agent. Endophyte Colletotrichum had highest antifungal behaviour, followed by Aspergillus fumigatus by producing cyclohexanone, 3-octanone and phenyl alcohol. Conclusion Endophytes represent a sustainable alternative to chemical inputs due to their eco-friendly, non-toxic, and cost-effective nature. They play a vital role in enhancing plant growth and resilience against insect pests and pathogens. Their ability to confer tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses makes them valuable for crop protection. However, deeper understanding of their biochemical and molecular interactions with host plants is essential. Genetic mechanisms underlying endophyte-mediated stress resistance require further investigation. Omics-based approaches offer powerful tools to decode the complexity of plant endophyte interactions. These approaches can identify efficient microbial candidates for stress tolerance and productivity. Exploring endophytes at the multiomics level will accelerate their practical applications. Such insights can improve biological control strategies. Overall, endophytes hold great promise for sustainable pest and disease management in agriculture. References Abdullah, R.R., 2019. 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Endophytic fungi isolated from mangrove plant and have antagonism role against Fusarium wilt. Journal of agricultural and Biological Science. 8 (3): 253-257. Zaman, N.R., Chowdhury, U.F., Reza, R.N., Chowdhury, F.T., Sarker, M., Hossain, M.M., Akbor, M.A., Amin, A., Islam, M.R and Khan, H., 2021. Plant growth promoting endophyte Burkholderia contaminans NZ antagonizes phytopathogen Macrophomina phaseolina through melanin synthesis and pyrrolnitrin inhibition. Public library of science one. 16 (9): 0257863. Content Contributors Sk. Menaaz Fathima, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. K. Sankari Meena, Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. V. Ramya, Department of Plant Pathology, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Warangal, Telangana, India.