Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Mediated Enhanced Biomass, Root Morphological Traits and Nutrient Uptake under Drought Stress: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Drought stress remains the major constraint in affecting crop productivity in several arid and semi-arid areas highlighting climate change perspectives. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) belong to a versatile class of plant–fungal symbiotic associations establishing drought stress alleviation. Nevertheless, the mechanistic mode of sustainable agriculture necessitates rigorous assessment for authentic and reproducible plant growth parameters. Understanding the plant growth promotion, root morphological changes, and nutrient uptake response in AMF-inoculated plants to drought is very important for sustainable agriculture. Therefore, conducted a meta-analysis of published research articles for determining the efficacy of AMF in alleviating drought stress. Overall analysis showed that AM inoculated plants had 49% higher plant growth promotion than the non-mycorrhizal plants under drought stress. Biomass analysis depicted the root dry weight increase by 49%, shoot dry weight increase by 54%, and total dry weight increase by 58% indicating plant biomass traits augmentation. Root morphological traits analysis corresponded to increased root length (37%), root surface (31%), and root volume (65%). Notably, nutrient uptake assessment showed variable increases in uptake patterns such as P uptake by 86%, N uptake by 35%, and K uptake by 46%. Furthermore, the prominent efficacy of AMF was significantly larger under drought for P uptake (p < 0.001) and root volume (p < 0.001) indicating the linear relationship between root length and P uptake. Thus, the present meta-analysis confirms that drought stress alleviation emancipated by AMF is mediated by root traits modification and phosphorous acquisition efficacy. Hence, meta-analyses along with experimental validations with field trial evaluations will certainly provide the AMF research for escalated applications for better plant productivity, stress alleviation, and sustainable agriculture.

Physiological and Metabolic Effects of the Inoculation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Solanum tuberosum Crops under Water Stress

“…Chitarra et al (2016) [ 16 ] have also reported that AMF symbiosis increased stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, and related parameters, showing a higher photosynthetic capacity in these plants. A meta-analysis carried out by Chandrasekaran et al [ 17 ] revealed that plants inoculated with AMF under hydric stress conditions have a significant increase in growth, being up to 49% higher; they also have an increase in the absorption of nutrients, which produces better crop yield. In plants of Robinia pseudoacacia L., the height increased by 100% with the inoculation of AMF with respect to the non-inoculated ones [ 18 ], and the growth of the seedlings of Pistacia vera L. treated with AMF was greater than that of the treatment without AMF.…”

Melatonin and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi synergistically improve drought toleration in kiwifruit seedlings by increasing mycorrhizal colonization and nutrient uptake

“…For example, the concentrations of nitrogen, potassium, copper, iron, and zinc in grape fruits were improved by MT supplemental ( Xia et al., 2021 ). Mycorrhiza can obviously promote the absorption of N, P and Fe, make the seedlings more conducive to nutrient growth and alleviate the damage caused by stress to plants ( Chandrasekaran, 2022 ). In this study MT and AM both increased significantly the concentration of P in seedling leaves under watering and drought condition, importantly, which contributed to drought tolerance enhancement ( Begum et al., 2020 ; Bechtaoui et al., 2021 ).…”

Proteomics as a tool to decipher plant responses in arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions: a meta‐analysis

“…This process has been explained as a form of plant priming that leads to a higher resistance of AM plants to different pathogens [7][8][9][10][11][12]. Plants benefit from the symbiotic association also upon drought stress: AM fungi have been shown to modulate water loss in different crops [13,14]. Similarly, ECM colonization of the root increases the plant water and nutrient supply [15], providing protection against soil pathogens [16].…”