Role of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in mobilization of soil phosphorus

Abstract

The microorganisms play a vital role in sustaining the crop production through improving the soil properties and plant nutrition. Among the microorganisms VAM (vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae) is a beneficial fungus that plays an important role in soil nutrient dynamics and improving soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Though phosphorus is the second macronutrient required in relatively large amounts by plants next to nitrogen, it is one of the most difficult nutrients for plants to acquire because of its low solubility, low mobility and fixation in soil. The mycorrhizal symbiotic association between fungi and plants plays an important role in the uptake of phosphorus. Many experiments have specified that VAM is able to alter mobilization of soil phosphorus of its host plants. The paper summarizes about mycorrhizal symbiosis of VAM involving multistep colonization process, soil phosphorus dynamics in the rhizosphere and mycorrhizal mechanism and pathways involved in phosphorus availability and uptake.