**15. Role of ECM fungi in the agriculture sector**

Uses of different chemicals for acute and chronic disease inhibition may cause environmental pollution and major human health problems [23]. For the sustainability of agriculture, different methods are established by fungal species [21]. Members in the genera *Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Fusarium, Penicillium, Serendipita, Phoma*, and *Trichoderma* are commonly identified as plant development stimulating fungi and also play a vital role as biofertilizer [24]. Different research studies have proven that fungi act as opponents and destroy soil-borne plant pathogens and help in the control of plant disease [25]. Entophytic fungi can be efficiently used as plant defenders, growth stimulators, and competitors of microorganisms, which have capacity for consumption in an extensive diversity of medical agricultural and industrial fields. This is mostly due to their abundant dispersion as symbionts with plants. ECMF recover soil structure, and nutrient source defends plants against root pathogens and also enhances plant growth by making different plants hormones, which may increase the growth rate and also enhance the photosynthesis rate of plants [26]. These fungi are important for the growth improvement of commercially important crops including different trees from the genera *Castanopsis, Dipterocarpus, Eucalyptus, Fagus, Picea, Pinus, Quercus*, and *Shorea. Scleroderma* and *Thelephora* are famous ectomycorrhiza genera that upsurge the rate of existence and growth of eucalyptus, oak, and pine seedlings in reestablishment and replantation programs [24].
