The reduction of abiotic stress in food crops through climate-smart mycorrhiza-enriched biofertilizer.

Abstract

Climate change enhances stress in food crops. Recently, abiotic stress such as metalloid toxicity, salinity, and drought have increased in food crops. Mycorrhizal fungi can accumulate several nutrients within their hyphae through a symbiotic relationship and release them to cells in the root of the food crops under stress conditions. We have studied arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-enriched biofertilizers as a climate-smart technology option to increase safe and healthy food production under abiotic stress. AMF such as Glomus sp., Rhizophagus sp., Acaulospora morrowiae, Paraglomus occultum, Funneliformis mosseae, and Claroideoglomus etunicatum enhance growth and yield in food crops grown in soils under abiotic stress. AMF also works as a bioremediation material in food crops grown in soil. More precisely, the arsenic concentrations in grains decrease by 57% with AMF application. In addition, AMF increases mineral contents, and antioxidant activities under drought and salinity stress in food crops. Catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased by 45% and 70% in AMF-treated plants under drought stress. AMF-enriched biofertilizers are used in crop fields like precision agriculture to reduce the demand for chemical fertilizers. Subsequently, AMF-enriched climate-smart biofertilizers increase nutritional quality by reducing abiotic stress in food crops grown in soils. Consequently, a climate resilience environment might be developed using AMF-enriched biofertilizers for sustainable livelihood.