Mycorrhizal Fungi and their Importance in the Conservation of the Caatinga

Abstract

The suppression of native vegetation due to inadequate practices has contributed to the non-survival of many plant species, resulting in the loss of the genetic heritage of the Caatinga flora. However, their growth and establishment can be improved by the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a symbiotic association formed by plant roots and soil fungi that helps seedlings to increase nutrition and tolerance to water deficit, a common situation in stressful environments such as the Caatinga. This review aimed to discuss the importance of mycorrhizal fungi in the development and conservation of native species of the Caatinga that live under water stress, highlighting the effects caused by arbuscular mycorrhiza, its importance for conservation and mechanisms of plant adaptation to stress. The research sought to gather data from articles and journals with the help of key words indexed in Science Direct, Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO), on the Google Academic platform and in the Catalog of Theses and Dissertations of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher-Level Person (Capes). The results indicate that the inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi through root growth can increase the absorption of water and nutrients, assisting in the development of local plants of the Caatinga that live under stress, contributing to the structure of the plant community and the functioning of the natural ecosystem. As research on this subject is still scarce, it is necessary to disseminate research on this subject in order to obtain a wider range of information.