Arbuscular mycorrhizas: An overview

Abstract

Almost every plant in natural ecosystem forms association with fungi either intracellularly as in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), or extracellularly as in ectomycorrhizal fungi. Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs) represent the most widespread symbiosis with land plants. The associated fungi colonize the plant roots and reside in the internal tissues of their host plant. This mutualistic association not only plays key role for enhancing plant growth by facilitating the uptake of water and essential nutrients but also protects the plant from adverse soil conditions. The application of mycorrhizal fungi is a promising alternative strategy for sustainable crop production under normal as well as biotic and abiotic stress conditions. The mycorrhizal plants have an improved ability for nutrient uptake and have ability to tolerate stress environments. There are increasing interest for the application of AM fungus for improving plant growth and enhancing crop production. The AM fungus also has positive impact on crop growth by improving soil quality by increasing water infiltration and retention and therefore reducing soil erosion. This review chapter epitomizes the current knowledge on the significance of AM fungus for improving crop production and maintaining agriculture sustainability.