Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Effects on Secondary Metabolite Production in Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Medicinal plants are used by 80% of the world population for their primary health care. The medicinal value of plants is primarily attributed to the secondary metabolite content such as terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenolics. These compounds play a crucial role in plant defense, are merchandised valued for their therapeutic applications and ecological role, and are also used as flavoring agents. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or Glomeromycota is known to form a symbiotic relationship with many terrestrial plants. AM fungi–plant consortium enhanced the production of plant terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenolics, which are valuable to human health. The potential role of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis in amplification of the secondary metabolite content has attained enormous recognition for sustainable cultivation of medicinally important crops. AMF–plant symbiosis not only improves the growth and nutrients but also exerts a synergistic effect on accumulation of bioactive compounds with medicinal importance. Current studies have also recognized AM-mediated modulation of morphology, biochemistry, and gene expression in medicinal as well as in the industrial important plants. This chapter provides an appraisal on contemporary finding in the area of AMF investigation with a marked emphasis on the yield of pharmaceutically important plant-derived secondary metabolites.