Plant performance in stressful environments: interpreting new and established knowledge of the roles of arbuscular mycorrhizas

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 326; no. 1-2; pp. 3 - 20
• Main Authors: Smith, Sally E, Facelli, Evelina, Pope, Suzanne, Andrew Smith, F
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.01.2010; Springer; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Aquatic resources; Arid zones; Biochemistry and biology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbon content; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Ecology; Economic plant physiology; Ecosystems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Hyphae; Life Sciences; Microbiology; Organic farming; Physical properties; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Plant biology; Plant growth; Plant nutrition; Plant Physiology; Plant roots; Plant Sciences; Plants; Regular Article; Soil fungi; Soil microbiology; Soil science; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil sciences; Soil structure; Soil water; Soils; Structure, texture, density, mechanical behavior. Heat and gas exchanges; Symbiosis; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); Terrestrial ecosystems; Plant competition; Soil microorganisms; Arbuscular mycorrhizas; Soil structure; Carbon deposition in soil; Nutrient uptake; Water relations; Competition; Microbial activity; Environmental factor; Knowledge; Water regime; Soil microorganism; Soil science; Deposition; Non metal; Property of soil; Group IVA element; Physical properties; Symbiont; Carbon; Stress; Soils; Endomycorrhiza; Mycorrhiza; Soil biology; Soil organisms; Environmental effect; Performance; Soil plant relation
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-009-9981-5

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses are formed by approximately 80% of vascular plant species in all major terrestrial biomes. In consequence an understanding of their functions is critical in any study of sustainable agricultural or natural ecosystems. Here we discuss the implications of recent results and ideas on AM symbioses that are likely to be of particular significance for plants dealing with abiotic stresses such as nutrient deficiency and especially water stress. In order to ensure balanced coverage, we also include brief consideration of the ways in which AM fungi may influence soil structure, carbon deposition in soil and interactions with the soil microbial and animal populations, as well as plant-plant competition. These interlinked outcomes of AM symbioses go well beyond effects in increasing nutrient uptake that are commonly discussed and all require to be taken into consideration in future work designed to understand the complex and multifaceted responses of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses in agricultural and natural environments.