Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Restoration

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Farming Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 15623

Special Issue Editor

Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China
Interests: fungal taxonomy; fungal phylogeny; Basidiomycota; Ascomycota; fungal pathogens
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The term ‘Mycorrhiza’ refers to the symbiotic relationship between plant roots and fungi, particularly in terrestrial environments. There are seven types of mycorrhizae: endo (arbuscular), ecto, ectendo, arbutoid, monotropoid, ericoid, and orchidaceous, among which endo- and ectomycorrhizae are the most abundant and widespread. Earliest fossil records suggest that endomycorrhizal interactions evolved circa 400 to 450 million years ago, and these associations played an important role in the colonization of land by plants. Almost 90% of plants in the earth ecosystem possess mycorrhizal associations. However, the distribution of mycorrhizal fungi depends on the distribution of their host plants, and various climatic and edaphic factors. In recent years, the development of several molecular techniques such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), and genome/transcriptome analyses has increased our knowledge regarding identifying new functions of these mycorrhizal fungi, understanding their community compositions in the ecosystems, and the pathway of interaction between different mycorrhizal fungi and their host plants. Additionally, mycorrhizal fungi play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems by regulating nutrient cycles and influencing various ecosystem processes. It is now well known that mycorrhizal association protects plants against several biotic and abiotic stresses and influences plant growth and performance, i.e., seedling survival, productivity, etc. In recent decades, interest in mycorrhizal symbiosis has increased for the sustainable management of agriculture, forestry, and land restoration.

This Special Issue welcomes research articles, reviews, and opinions addressing the latest knowledge on mycorrhizal fungi, including their diversity and taxonomy, molecular biology, genomics, functional diversity and ecology, microbial interaction, biofertilizers, biological control, and sustainable management of agriculture and forest environments, both in its fundamental and applied aspects.

Dr. Samantha C. Karunarathna
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • diversity and taxonomy
  • mycorrhizal fungi
  • functional analysis
  • plant growth promoter (PGP)
  • biofertilizers
  • mycorrhizae–microbe interactions
  • root symbiosis
  • next-generation sequencing (NGS)

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1703 KiB  
Article
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Plant Growth Stimulant in a Tomato and Onion Intercropping System
by Muhammad Shafiq, Josefina Casas-Solís, Cecilia Neri-Luna, Munazza Kiran, Saba Yasin, Diego Raymundo González-Eguiarte and Alejandro Muñoz-Urias
Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 2003; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082003 - 28 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1050
Abstract
Climate change has challenged large-scale crop production at a global level. Global temperature increases, water scarcity, and a further reduction in cultivable land resources due to anthropogenic impacts have resulted in the need to redesign agricultural systems such as intercropping to maximize the [...] Read more.
Climate change has challenged large-scale crop production at a global level. Global temperature increases, water scarcity, and a further reduction in cultivable land resources due to anthropogenic impacts have resulted in the need to redesign agricultural systems such as intercropping to maximize the efficient use of natural resources. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) represent an underexplored area, not only in terms of an alternative to the heavy use of chemical fertilizers, but also as a natural resource used to enhance physiological processes and mitigate the variations in biotic and abiotic factors in plants. On the other hand, the combined use of AMF with suitable but cheaper and environmentally friendly growth substrates is another way to maximize crop production. A study was carried out in a tomato and onion intercropped pattern system to analyze the above- and belowground implications of two AMF commercial products containing Rhizophagus irregularis, propagated in soil and with an in vitro technique addition, with two different mixed growth substrates (river sand and compost) under greenhouse conditions. Overall, both AMF products overall showed significant promoting effects on plant growth (15–30%) and root parameters (50%) in the tomato and onion plants on the sand-mixed substrate. Moreover, the soil-propagated AMF also showed significant positive effects on chlorophyll content (35%), photosynthetic activity, and the accumulation of macro- and micronutrients, especially the Fe and Mn contents (60–80%) in the tomato plants. We present evidence of the benefits to plant performance due to the interactive effects between AMF and the growth substrate, and these positive effects might be due to the intercropping system. Hence, soil-propagated Rhizophagus irregularis is represented here as a promising candidate for enhancing growth, sustainability, and productivity under greenhouse conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Restoration)
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18 pages, 2098 KiB  
Article
Impact of Mycorrhizal Fungi from Different Rhizospheric Soils on Fungal Colonization, Growth, and Chlorophyll Contents of Cenchrus ciliaris
by Sumaira Thind, Muhammad Shafiq Chaudhary, Allah Ditta, Iqbal Hussain, Abida Parveen, Naseer Ullah, Qaisar Mahmood, Ibrahim Al-Ashkar and Ayman El-Sabagh
Agronomy 2022, 12(11), 2644; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112644 - 26 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2093
Abstract
Mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations between fungi and plants and are primarily responsible for nutrient transfer and survival of both partners. The present study was conducted to explore the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizospheric soil of perennial grass species (Saccharum spontaneum [...] Read more.
Mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations between fungi and plants and are primarily responsible for nutrient transfer and survival of both partners. The present study was conducted to explore the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizospheric soil of perennial grass species (Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum bengalense, Setaria verticillata, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, and Typha angustata) around the district Layyah. In the subsequent experiment, the rhizospheric soils were used as inoculants, and their impact on mycorrhizal colonization in the plant and soil, and growth and physiological attributes, of Cenchrus ciliaris were investigated. The maximum hyphal, vesicles, arbuscules, dark septate endophytic and ectomycorrhizal colonization, and spore percentage were observed in the case of R-S5, i.e., rhizospheric soil, collected from Saccharum bengalense. However, the maximum (0.9310) Simpson’s index of diversity was observed in the case of R-S4, i.e., rhizospheric soil collected from Setaria verticillata. Different mycorrhizal fungal morphotypes scattered over three genera, i.e., Acaulospora, Glomus, and Scutellospora, were recorded both from rhizosphere and trap cultures. The application of spores from rhizospheric soil collected from S. bengalense (R-S5) caused the maximum increase in plant height (19.5%), number of leaves plant−1 (17.6%), leaf area (108.0%), and chlorophyll contents (29.4%) of Cenchrus ciliaris, compared to other treatments. In conclusion, the inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi significantly improves the mycorrhizal characteristics of Cenchrus ciliaris and its rhizospheric soil and ultimately enhances the growth and physiological parameters of Cenchrus ciliaris. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Restoration)
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10 pages, 3181 KiB  
Article
Mycorrhizal Inoculation Effect on Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) Seedlings
by Nour ALHadidi, Zoltán Pap, Márta Ladányi, Viktor Szentpéteri and Noémi Kappel
Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 2019; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11102019 - 08 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2471
Abstract
Sweet potato is an increasingly significant crop and its effective and sustainable cultivation has become important in temperate countries. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of a mycorrhizal inoculum, Symbivit, and whether it could establish a symbiotic relationship [...] Read more.
Sweet potato is an increasingly significant crop and its effective and sustainable cultivation has become important in temperate countries. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of a mycorrhizal inoculum, Symbivit, and whether it could establish a symbiotic relationship with the seedlings of two sweet potato varieties (orange and purple). The effectiveness of the mycorrhizal inoculation with a sterilized substrate on the mycorrhizal parameters (F%, M%, m%, a%, A%) and physical parameters “[length of roots and shoots (cm), the fresh weight of shoots and roots (g) as well as the length of stem (cm)]” on the sweet potato seedlings has also been studied. Results show that the sterilization treatment with Symbivit in both varieties increased the frequency of mycorrhiza in the root system. For the intensity of the mycorrhizal colonization in the root fragments and the arbuscular abundance, there was a difference between the mycorrhizal inoculum and the sterilization treatment among the varieties. Overall, the preliminary results provided remarkable information about mycorrhizal inoculation, substrate sterilization on mycorrhizal development, as well as changes in the physical parameters between sweet potato seedlings. Our results could serve as a practical strategy for further research into adding significance to the effect of the beneficial soil microbes on sweet potatoes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Restoration)
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15 pages, 1861 KiB  
Article
The Use of Coherent Laser Stimulation of Seeds and a Fungal Inoculum to Increase the Productivity and Health of Soybean Plants
by Joanna Dłużniewska, Agnieszka Klimek-Kopyra, Tomasz Czech, Jan Wincenty Dobrowolski and Ewa Dacewicz
Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 1923; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11101923 - 25 Sep 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1697
Abstract
The laser stimulation of seeds is regarded as a modern method of seed enhancement. Our study evaluated the productivity and health of soybean plants resulting from the coherent irradiation of seeds and irradiation of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculum. The two-factor pot [...] Read more.
The laser stimulation of seeds is regarded as a modern method of seed enhancement. Our study evaluated the productivity and health of soybean plants resulting from the coherent irradiation of seeds and irradiation of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculum. The two-factor pot experiment took into account (1) the type of irradiated biological material (seeds, AMF inoculum, and seeds and inoculum) and (2) the means of irradiation (red laser—LR, blue laser—LB, red and blue laser—LR + LB, and control). Seed weight per plant, pod number per plant, root weight, the Fv/Fm fluorescence parameters, and the health status of the aboveground and underground parts of the plants were assessed. Stimulation with a laser light was shown to have a positive effect on the productivity and health of soybean plants. Significantly better effects can be obtained by stimulating the seeds alone. The stimulation of seeds treated with AMF inoculum slightly reduced the productivity of the plants. However, with regards to the conditions of plants, the treatment of seeds with AMF inoculum and laser irradiation was shown to reduce the incidence of Septoria brown spots. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Restoration)
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11 pages, 4344 KiB  
Article
Exogenous Glomalin-Related Soil Proteins Differentially Regulate Soil Properties in Trifoliate Orange
by Rui-Cheng Liu, Ying-Ning Zou, Kamil Kuča, Abeer Hashem, Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah and Qiang-Sheng Wu
Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 1896; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11101896 - 22 Sep 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2031
Abstract
Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) is a specific glycoprotein secreted into the soil by hyphae and spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that have many potential functions. It is not clear whether exogenous GRSP has an effect on plant growth and soil properties or whether [...] Read more.
Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) is a specific glycoprotein secreted into the soil by hyphae and spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that have many potential functions. It is not clear whether exogenous GRSP has an effect on plant growth and soil properties or whether the effects are related to the type of GRSP used. In this study, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.) seedlings were used to analyze the effects of easily extractable GRSP (EE-GRSP) and difficultly extractable GRSP (DE-GRSP) at a quarter-, half-, and full-strength concentration on shoot and root biomass as well as soil properties The results showed that, at different strengths, exogenous EE-GRSR significantly increased shoot and root biomass compared to the control, which displayed the most significant effects from the half-strength EE-GRSP. In contrast, DE-GRSP, at various strengths, significantly reduced shoot and root biomass. Furthermore, the application of exogenous EE-GRSP stimulated soil water-stable aggregate (WSA) content at 2–4 mm and 0.5–1 mm sizes, while DE-GRSP strongly reduced WSA content at the 2–4 mm, 1–2 mm, 0.5–1 mm, and 0.25–0.5 mm sizes, consequently leading to an increase or decrease in the WSA stability, according to the mean weight diameter. However, exogenous EE-GRSP decreased soil pH and DE-GRSP increased it, which was related to WSA stability. Exogenous EE-GRSP almost significantly increased soil acidic, neutral, and alkaline phosphatase activity at different strengths, while exogenous DE-GRSP, also at different strengths, significantly inhibited soil acidic phosphatase activity. The application of both exogenous EE-GRSP and DE-GRSP increased the organic carbon content of the soil. This study concluded that exogenous GRSP exerted differential effects on plant biomass and soil properties, and EE-GRSP can be considered as a soil stimulant for use in citrus plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the negative effects of exogenous DE-GRSP on plant biomass and soil properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Restoration)
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Review

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17 pages, 979 KiB  
Review
Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms as a Natural Bio-Indicator for Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution
by Aseni Navoda Ediriweera, Samantha Chandranath Karunarathna, Pinnaduwage Neelamanie Yapa, Douglas Allen Schaefer, Arani Koshathaki Ranasinghe, Nakarin Suwannarach and Jianchu Xu
Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1041; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051041 - 27 Apr 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4059
Abstract
Environmental changes and heavy metal pollution are some of the consequences of anthropogenic activities. Many ecosystems, including edaphic ecosystems, suffer from the effects of pollution. The accurate assessment of soil heavy metal contamination leads to better approaches for remediating soils. The exploration of [...] Read more.
Environmental changes and heavy metal pollution are some of the consequences of anthropogenic activities. Many ecosystems, including edaphic ecosystems, suffer from the effects of pollution. The accurate assessment of soil heavy metal contamination leads to better approaches for remediating soils. The exploration of different ways, including biological methods, to conduct environmental monitoring is still ongoing. Here, we focus on reviewing the potential of ectomycorrhizal fungi as a natural indicator of soil heavy metal pollution. Mycorrhizal fungi fulfill basic criteria required as natural bio-indicators for heavy metal contamination. These fungi use different mechanisms such as avoidance and tolerance to survive in metalliferous soils. Thus, we promote ectomycorrhizal fungi as natural indicators. This review also synthesizes existing research on ectomycorrhizal mushrooms as natural bio-indicators for heavy metal pollution and the elaboration of mechanisms, by which ectomycorrhizal fungi meet the criteria required for a successful bio-indicator. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Restoration)
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