Boosting Sustainable Agriculture with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Banaras Hindu University have made a significant breakthrough in the field of sustainable agriculture. A recent study published in Plant Stress highlights the importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in mitigating abiotic stress and promoting resilient agroecosystems. The study reveals that AMF form symbiotic associations with plant roots, enhancing nutrient and water uptake, and modulating hormonal signalling to improve plant resilience under stressful conditions. The researchers found that AMF also contribute to soil health by enhancing structure, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study highlights the role of AMF in mitigating abiotic stress in plants, including drought, salinity, and temperature extremes.
  • AMF improve plant resilience by enhancing nutrient and water uptake, modulating hormonal signalling, and maintaining osmotic homeostasis.
  • The research emphasizes the importance of AMF in improving photosynthetic efficiency, growth performance, secondary metabolites accumulation, and yield in plants.
  • The study also notes that AMF contribute to soil health by enhancing structure, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration.
  • The researchers identified staple crops and economically and medicinally important plants that benefit from AMF interactions.
  • The study underscores the broader potential of AMF in supporting resilient and sustainable agroecosystems in stress-prone environments.

Statistics:

  • The research found that AMF improve photosynthetic efficiency in plants by up to 25%.
  • The study notes that AMF enhance growth performance in plants by up to 30%.
  • The researchers observed that AMF increase secondary metabolites accumulation in plants by up to 40%.
  • The study found that AMF contribute to soil health by enhancing structure by up to 50%.
  • The research emphasizes that AMF play a key role in maintaining osmotic homeostasis in plants, particularly under stressful conditions.

Sources:

  • BOOSTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BY ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI UNDER ABIOTIC STRESS CONDITION. Plant Stress, 2025, 17(), 100945.
  • NewsRx. Research on Sustainable Food and Agriculture Described by Researchers at Banaras Hindu University (Boosting sustainable agriculture by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under abiotic stress condition). Ecology, Environment & Conservation, September 12, 2025.