Mycorrhizal fungi: Role in the solubilization of potassium

Abstract

Mycorrhizae have been key living microorganisms in the plant colonization of terrestrial environments. The crucial roles of mycorrhizae are to provide plant nutrition and stress resistance for plant growth and development. Potassium (K+) shows important functions in different metabolic processes and physiological functions and is the third crucial component of most crop fertilizers (after nitrogen and phosphorus). This chapter discusses the current state of knowledge about the role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in the release, solubilization, and transport of potassium from the soil to plants. Improved metagenomic analyses and the availability of transcriptome data provide promising tools for studying fungal weathering and the mycorrhizal contributions to K+ solubilization and K+ transport to plants. Additionally, some benefits of mycorrhizal potassium uptake in plants are described.