Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic interaction with 80% of known land plants. It has a pronounced impact on plant growth, water absorption, mineral nutrition, and protection from abiotic stresses. Plants are very dynamic systems having great adaptability under continuously changing drying conditions. In this regard, the function of AMF as a biological tool for improving plant drought stress tolerance and phenotypic plasticity, in terms of establishing mutualistic associations, seems an innovative approach towards sustainable agriculture. However, a better understanding of these complex interconnected signaling pathways and AMF-mediated mechanisms that regulate the drought tolerance in plants will enhance its potential application as an innovative approach in environmentally friendly agriculture. This paper reviews the underlying mechanisms that are confidently linked with plant–AMF interaction in alleviating drought stress, constructing emphasis on phytohormones and signaling molecules and their interaction with biochemical, and physiological processes to maintain the homeostasis of nutrient and water cycling and plant growth performance. Likewise, the paper will analyze how the AMF symbiosis helps the plant to overcome the deleterious effects of stress is also evaluated. Finally, we review how interactions between various signaling mechanisms governed by AMF symbiosis modulate different physiological responses to improve drought tolerance. Understanding the AMF-mediated mechanisms that are important for regulating the establishment of the mycorrhizal association and the plant protective responses towards unfavorable conditions will open new approaches to exploit AMF as a bioprotective tool against drought.
Highlights
Drought stress, one of the major abiotic stresses, drastically affects crop production and jeopardizes food security globally [1]
The simultaneous increase in the expression of plant genes encoding D-myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase (IPS) and 14-3-3-like protein GF14 (14-3GF), which were responsible for abscisic acid (ABA) signaling transduction, was found to be involved in the activation of 14-3-3 protein and aquaporins (GintAQPF1 and GintAQPF2) in Rhizophagus intraradices. These findings suggest that coexpression of IPS and 14-3GF is responsible for the synergistic actions of the symbiotic partners in enhancing plant drought tolerance [81]
Mycorrhizal symbiosis is a ubiquitous plant–microbe interaction, plays an important role in nutrient cycling that helps alleviate the deleterious effects of drought conditions by promoting plant performance and yield production
Summary
One of the major abiotic stresses, drastically affects crop production and jeopardizes food security globally [1]. Plants cope with drought deficit condition by recruiting drought avoidance and/or drought tolerance mechanisms, which include morphological, physiological, and molecular responses [2,3]. Water deficit condition negatively affects several aspects of plant physiology [4]. It uncouples photosynthesis, disorders the structure of enzymes, reduces nutrient uptake and/or transport to the shoot, prompting a hormonal and nutritional imbalance in the plant [5,6,7]. In response to drought stress, the development of AMF-mediated mechanisms includes modifications in the content of plant hormones, such as strigolactones, jasmonic acid (JA), and abscisic acid (ABA), and improvement in plant water status by increasing hydraulic conductivity [19]. The current review is a refreshing contrast on previous reports and unique in its approach as giving an up-to-date insight into present knowledge pertaining AMF-mediated drought stress tolerance at biochemical, molecular, and morphological levels and examining the latest significant contributions by researchers on the role of AMF in improving different aspects of plant/crop performance under drought stress
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