Sustainable Agriculture : Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

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 Insight into the Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture plays a vital role in agroecosystems and reduces adverse effects on the environment by utilizing the various natural processes. Optimum soil fertility is an essential goal to be achieved in sustainable agriculture system. The presence of beneficial microorganisms in the rhizospheric region and their activities are the main focal point which makes dynamic resources available to plants and conserve soil fertility. Majority of the agricultural and horticultural crops are associated with common soil fungi, the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. These fungi are crucial for plant health and fitness as they increase the efficiencies of the plant root systems. The hyphae of these fungi originating from roots grow into the soil and absorb nutrients especially phosphorus and deliver it to the roots. They also play a crucial role in imparting tolerance to plants against various stresses as well as modifying soil structure. Nevertheless, several agricultural practices involved in crop production can influence both AM formation and function. Consequently, AM fungal introductions or changes in crop management practices that enhance the proliferation, diversity and function of native AM fungi become essential. Optimization of agronomic practices that sustain maximum AM fungal presence and activity would enable to achieve increased plant production in sustainable agriculture. 

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae and nutrient depletion zones around root 


The role of AM fungi in enhancing plant growth is proved beyond doubt both under on-fi eld and off-fi eld conditions. Responses to AM fungal association are most widely to occur when mycorrhizal-dependent crop species are raised on substrates with low P levels. Therefore, it is important to determine the mycorrhizal dependency of the crops grown in a region and to select those which could respond to AM inoculation. Screening for selection of an efficient crop–AM fungal combination should be undertaken. Research should be intensified in the direction of manipulating AM fungi in the indigenous AM fungal community to achieve maximum crop productivity. The optimization of agronomic practices, reducing fertilizer input and use of cheap source of fertilizer (rock phosphate, organic manures) should be investigated. Top priority should be given to the development of new technologies for rapid and large-scale quality inoculum production. Further, one of the main tasks in AM research is to raise awareness in the growers’ mind about the potentials of AM technology in sustainable crop production and soil conservation.

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