Arbuscular Mycorrhiza-Induced Drought Stress Mitigation on Savanna Species

Abstract

In many arid and semi-arid regions, drought stress continues to be the primary factor limiting crop and ecosystem productivity, highlighting the implications of climate change. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a flexible group that forms plant–fungal symbiotic relationships that mitigate the effects of drought stress. Developing innovative management techniques to lessen the negative consequences of drought stress is imperative in order to improve ecosystem health and food security. By causing oxidative stress, altering membrane integrity, plant water relations, nutrient uptake, photosynthetic activity, photosynthetic apparatus, and anti-oxidant activities, drought stress dramatically affects plant growth and development. Plant resistance to drought stress can be considerably increased using AMF. AMF helps plants thrive under drought stress by preserving membrane integrity and enhancing plant water levels, nutrient and water uptake, and water-use efficiency (WUE). AMF also lessens the buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by boosting antioxidant activities and gene expression that give plants resistance against drought-induced oxidative stress. It also enhances photosynthetic efficiency, osmolytes, phenols, and hormone accumulation. This review discussed the various roles that AMF plays in the various ways that plants react to drought stress. We have given a thorough overview of the various pathways that AMF mediates to help plants develop drought resistance.