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

Summary

This review examines how beneficial fungi called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be grown alongside plants in laboratory conditions to improve plant growth and stress tolerance. These fungi form partnerships with plant roots, helping them absorb more nutrients and water while protecting them from diseases and environmental stress. By combining this mycorrhizal inoculation with plant tissue culture techniques, scientists can produce large numbers of healthier, more resilient plants for agriculture.

Background

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play essential roles in sustainable agriculture by enhancing nutrient uptake, promoting plant growth, and improving resilience to environmental stressors. In recent years, in vitro mycorrhization has emerged as a promising approach for rapidly propagating economically and ecologically important plant species while integrating mycorrhizal inoculation under controlled conditions.

Objective

This review examines the potential of in vitro mycorrhization as a controlled system for investigating AMF-plant interactions and their impact on plant development. The review describes various in vitro mycorrhization systems, their applications in mass production of AMF propagules and mycorrhizal plants, and their role in enhancing plant resilience to environmental stress.

Results

The review documents successful in vitro mycorrhization for multiple species including banana, potato, pear, date palm, argan, and bamboo. Various culture systems have been developed and optimized, with the mycelium donor plant system emerging as particularly useful for in vitro mycorrhization of agro-economically important species. Research demonstrates AMF capacity to enhance nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and plant growth in mycorrhized plants.

Conclusion

In vitro mycorrhization represents a valuable integrated approach combining plant propagation with enhanced environmental stress resilience. While challenges remain in achieving consistent AMF-plant symbiosis across diverse species, existing studies demonstrate significant potential for large-scale production of mycorrhizal plants with improved agronomic traits and stress tolerance, particularly important for food security and sustainable agriculture in the context of climate change.
  • Published in:Plants (Basel),
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 40733334, DOI: 10.3390/plants14142097
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