MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

In Vitro Mycorrhization for Plant Propagation and Enhanced Resilience to Environmental Stress: A Review

Summary

Mycorrhizal fungi form beneficial partnerships with plant roots, significantly improving plant health and resilience to environmental stresses like drought and disease. Scientists can now grow these fungi in laboratory conditions alongside plant tissues to create enhanced plants that are stronger and more productive. This in vitro mycorrhization approach offers a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides, potentially revolutionizing agriculture to better withstand climate change challenges while maintaining food security.

Background

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a critical role in sustainable agriculture by enhancing nutrient uptake, promoting plant growth, and improving stress tolerance. In vitro mycorrhization has emerged as a promising approach for rapid propagation of economically important plant species while integrating mycorrhizal inoculation under controlled conditions.

Objective

This review examines in vitro mycorrhization as a controlled system for studying AMF-plant interactions and their applications in mass production of mycorrhizal plants. The objective is to highlight the potential of in vitro mycorrhization for plant propagation and enhanced resilience to environmental stressors.

Results

Multiple in vitro mycorrhization systems have been successfully developed and applied to various plant species including banana, potato, pear, date palm, argan, and bamboo. These systems enable large-scale production of AMF propagules and mycorrhizal plants with enhanced tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses through mechanisms including improved nutrient uptake, antioxidant defenses, and gene expression regulation.

Conclusion

In vitro mycorrhization represents a valuable integrated approach combining plant micropropagation with mycorrhizal inoculation to enhance plant resilience to environmental stress. Despite remaining challenges in achieving consistent AMF-plant symbiosis across diverse species, existing research demonstrates significant potential for improving agricultural sustainability and food security in the context of climate change.
  • Published in:Plants (Basel),
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 40733334
Scroll to Top