▶ Abstract
In this article, we will delve a little deeper into arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), I must say that mycorrhizae (AM) are essential to optimize the use of agroecosystems, increasing their production, yield and productivity in an ecologically sound, socially just and economically profitable way.
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▶ When referring to the richness or variety of living beings that exist on Earth, genetic variety and ecosystems are included; in fact, high diversity is often associated with a high variety of forms, each adapted to particular conditions and performing specific functions. It is therefore easy to assume that ecosystem functioning is a function of species diversity, including their inter- and intraspecific genetic variability.
Scientific evidence has made it clear that there is an interdependent interaction between species and between species and their environment. Hence, biodiversity is responsible for ensuring the stability and self-regulation of ecosystems and, therefore, the functioning of the world's ecosystems.
▶ There is strong evidence that AMF fungi can be a very useful tool for the development of sustainable agriculture, since, in symbiosis with most plants of ecological, agricultural, forestry and medicinal interest, they significantly improve the absorption of nutrients, especially phosphorus, and the growth and production of the host plant.
In addition, AMs also improve plant water relations and increase plant tolerance or resistance to various biotic and abiotic stress conditions, such as salinity and pathogen attack, high concentrations of heavy metals in soils, high concentrations of heavy metals in soils, other.
▶ The beneficial effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on different cultivars have also been well documented. The effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, in terms of promoting phosphorus uptake, host plant growth and production, among other variables, varies greatly according to the plant species and AMF involved in the symbiosis.
The response of the symbiosis can vary from mutualism to parasitism, this high variability, called functional diversity of the symbiosis, hinders the predictability of the response and, consequently, the wide use of this important biotechnological tool, since there is not only a high intraspecific functional diversity, but also a high degree of diversity in the symbiosis.
▶ It should be noted that effectiveness is not only strongly dependent on the AMF species and associated plant. It can also vary between different plant varieties and different ecotypes or isolates of the same AMF species.
In spite of the clear importance of biodiversity, different studies in different areas of research show the risk of loss of biological diversity and the ecosystem services it provides on a global scale due to the disturbance of the natural environment by human activities.
▶ Conclusion
A better understanding of the functional diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis involving socioeconomically important crops and different arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculants is fundamental to optimize the use of this biotechnological tool, minimizing its risks and maximizing its benefits in favor of plant growth and production, soil health and the balance of soil biodiversity and agroecosystem sustainability.
NOTE: Reference material.
-Multifactorial Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Agroecosystem
-Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and organic farming
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PS: This article has been published from the GEMS community