Abstract: Plant endophytic microbes include endophytes,endophytic bacteria,endophytic fungi,endophytic actinobacteria and endophytic archaebacteria in concept,and the dark matter,which originated from astrophysics,refers to the vast universe of unknown microbes,derived genetic resources and the unexplored second metabolites.Plant endophytic microbes can be divided into symbiosis endophytes,beneficial endophytes and potential pathogens according to their association with the host plant.Plant endophytic microbes played an extensive part in the promotion of plant growth,protection against biotic and abiotic stresses,improved plant fitness,infection of the biosynthesis of metabolites in host plant,and the phytoremediation of polluted environment with host plant.Another focus on endophytes’ research is the exploitation and utilization of bioactive second metabolites produced by plant endophytic microbes.Majority of endophytic resources were untapped owing to the unculturability of most microbes and the deficiency in separation and analysis of second metabolites.The improvements of surface sterilization,isolating and culturing techniques,and the combination of multi-omics have greatly promoted the research in plant endophytic microbes.Endophytic microbiomes and cooperation in this area will enhance the discovering,understanding and utilizing of plant endophytic resources.Based on the aforementioned,present paper reviewed the progress in function and metabolites of endophytes,omics technologies and methods of isolating and culturing in plant endophytes research.In addition,the research directions in this field was suggested at last.

Key words: plant endophytic microbes, isolation and culturing techniques, omics techniques, secondary metabolites, dark matters