Role of AM fungi in growth promotion of high-value crops

Abstract

In order to meet the food demands of burgeoning population, innovative and efficient management practices are required for sustainable agricultural production. The high value crops (HVCs) including vegetables, horticulture, fruit and field crops such as potato, cotton, sugarcane etc. not only strengthen the financial security of farmers but also ensure their food, fiber and nutritional availability. To improve the productivity of HVCs, use of beneficial microbial symbionts such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is very promising and eco-friendly approach. The AMF form association with most of the land plants including agricultural and HVCs. They provide numerous benefits to the plants including better availability of water and nutrients, alleviate various biotic and abiotic stresses and promote plant growth. However, AMF response in improving the plant performance depends upon several other aspects such as soil environment, AMF strains, plant genotypes, agricultural management practices etc. In this regard, future research must be towards optimization of AMF plant association, suitable inoculum production and application techniques and co-inoculation of AMF with other plant growth promoting bacteria. In the present chapter we will discuss the state-of-the-art of potential of AMF to improve the production of HVCs, its application in micro-propagation program, commercialization and future advancement for sustainable production system. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.