Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-Mediated Mycoremediation of Saline Soil

What is it about?

The AMF holds the potential to reduce the impact of salinity-induced stress on plants. The AMF associations often result in greater yield of crop plants even under saline conditions. The AM fungi widely exist in salt-affected soils. To some extent, AM fungi are considered as bio-ameliorators of saline soils. The AMF is increasingly being considered for mycoremediation of soil salinity. The use of plant symbiotic microorganisms, especially AM fungi, is useful in developing strategies to facilitate plant growth in saline soils. The AMF maintains physiological and biochemical processes of the host plant. In salt-stressed soil, PO4 3− ions usually precipitate along with Ca2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+ and remain less available to plants. However, AMF symbiosis in plants enhance the uptake of less mobile phosphorus by extending their external hyphal network beyond nutrient depletion zones. Apart from salt stress mitigation, AMF also improves plant growth and hormonal status, increases nutrient acquisition, maintains osmotic balance and reduces ion toxicity (Juniper and Abbott 1993). It also stabilizes soil for plant growth by producing glomalin, a substance that binds soil aggregates. The purpose of this chapter is to outline the current state of knowledge on soil salinity mycoremediation. This chapter highlights interaction mechanisms between AMF and AMF-colonized plants in which AM fungi ameliorate the deleterious effects of salinity. It includes a brief discussion on how this knowledge is currently being used for mycoremediation of soil salinity with future prospects.

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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash