Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Boosting Crop Resilience to Environmental Stresses

Amid escalating challenges from global climate change and increasing environmental degradation, agricultural systems worldwide face a multitude of abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, elevated temperatures, heavy metal pollution, and flooding. These factors critically impair crop productiv...

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Main Authors: Wenjing Nie, Qinghai He, Hongen Guo, Wenjun Zhang, Lan Ma, Junlin Li, Dan Wen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2448
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author Wenjing Nie
Qinghai He
Hongen Guo
Wenjun Zhang
Lan Ma
Junlin Li
Dan Wen
author_facet Wenjing Nie
Qinghai He
Hongen Guo
Wenjun Zhang
Lan Ma
Junlin Li
Dan Wen
author_sort Wenjing Nie
collection DOAJ
description Amid escalating challenges from global climate change and increasing environmental degradation, agricultural systems worldwide face a multitude of abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, elevated temperatures, heavy metal pollution, and flooding. These factors critically impair crop productivity and yield. Simultaneously, biotic pressures such as pathogen invasions intensify the vulnerability of agricultural outputs. At the heart of mitigating these challenges, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AM fungi) form a crucial symbiotic relationship with most terrestrial plants, significantly enhancing their stress resilience. AM fungi improve nutrient uptake, particularly that of nitrogen and phosphorus, through their extensive mycelial networks. Additionally, they enhance soil structure, increase water use efficiency, and strengthen antioxidant defense mechanisms, particularly in environments stressed by drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metal contamination, and flooding. Beyond mitigating abiotic stress, AM fungi bolster plant defenses against pathogens and pests by competing for colonization sites and enhancing plant immune responses. They also facilitate plant adaptation to extreme environmental conditions by altering root morphology, modulating gene expression, and promoting the accumulation of osmotic adjustment compounds. This review discusses the role of AM fungi in enhancing plant growth and performance under environmental stress.
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issn 2076-2607
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publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Microorganisms
spelling doaj-art-ae64cbe586af44bcbfb97366c601791f2025-08-20T02:57:20ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-11-011212244810.3390/microorganisms12122448Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Boosting Crop Resilience to Environmental StressesWenjing Nie0Qinghai He1Hongen Guo2Wenjun Zhang3Lan Ma4Junlin Li5Dan Wen6Yantai Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Utilization of Silkworm Functional Substances, Yantai Engineering Research Center of Plant Stem Cell Targeted Breeding, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Functional Crop Germplasm Innovation and Cultivation Utilization, Shandong Institute of Sericulture, Yantai 264001, ChinaYantai Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Utilization of Silkworm Functional Substances, Yantai Engineering Research Center of Plant Stem Cell Targeted Breeding, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Functional Crop Germplasm Innovation and Cultivation Utilization, Shandong Institute of Sericulture, Yantai 264001, ChinaYantai Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Utilization of Silkworm Functional Substances, Yantai Engineering Research Center of Plant Stem Cell Targeted Breeding, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Functional Crop Germplasm Innovation and Cultivation Utilization, Shandong Institute of Sericulture, Yantai 264001, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Shandong Key Laboratory of Bulk Open-Field Vegetable Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Huang Huai Protected Horticulture Engineering, Institute of Vegetables, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, ChinaYantai Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Utilization of Silkworm Functional Substances, Yantai Engineering Research Center of Plant Stem Cell Targeted Breeding, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Functional Crop Germplasm Innovation and Cultivation Utilization, Shandong Institute of Sericulture, Yantai 264001, ChinaYantai Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Utilization of Silkworm Functional Substances, Yantai Engineering Research Center of Plant Stem Cell Targeted Breeding, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Functional Crop Germplasm Innovation and Cultivation Utilization, Shandong Institute of Sericulture, Yantai 264001, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Shandong Key Laboratory of Bulk Open-Field Vegetable Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Huang Huai Protected Horticulture Engineering, Institute of Vegetables, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, ChinaAmid escalating challenges from global climate change and increasing environmental degradation, agricultural systems worldwide face a multitude of abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, elevated temperatures, heavy metal pollution, and flooding. These factors critically impair crop productivity and yield. Simultaneously, biotic pressures such as pathogen invasions intensify the vulnerability of agricultural outputs. At the heart of mitigating these challenges, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AM fungi) form a crucial symbiotic relationship with most terrestrial plants, significantly enhancing their stress resilience. AM fungi improve nutrient uptake, particularly that of nitrogen and phosphorus, through their extensive mycelial networks. Additionally, they enhance soil structure, increase water use efficiency, and strengthen antioxidant defense mechanisms, particularly in environments stressed by drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metal contamination, and flooding. Beyond mitigating abiotic stress, AM fungi bolster plant defenses against pathogens and pests by competing for colonization sites and enhancing plant immune responses. They also facilitate plant adaptation to extreme environmental conditions by altering root morphology, modulating gene expression, and promoting the accumulation of osmotic adjustment compounds. This review discusses the role of AM fungi in enhancing plant growth and performance under environmental stress.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2448arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi)abiotic stressbiotic stressplant resistanceecosystem health
spellingShingle Wenjing Nie
Qinghai He
Hongen Guo
Wenjun Zhang
Lan Ma
Junlin Li
Dan Wen
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Boosting Crop Resilience to Environmental Stresses
Microorganisms
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi)
abiotic stress
biotic stress
plant resistance
ecosystem health
title Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Boosting Crop Resilience to Environmental Stresses
title_full Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Boosting Crop Resilience to Environmental Stresses
title_fullStr Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Boosting Crop Resilience to Environmental Stresses
title_full_unstemmed Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Boosting Crop Resilience to Environmental Stresses
title_short Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Boosting Crop Resilience to Environmental Stresses
title_sort arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi boosting crop resilience to environmental stresses
topic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi)
abiotic stress
biotic stress
plant resistance
ecosystem health
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2448
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