Co-application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and engineered nanomaterials: A promising strategy for crop resilience against abiotic stresses

Abstract

• Co-application of AMF and ENM can promote the AMF's beneficial effects on plant growth. • ENMs enhances the efficacy of AMF in the root colonization process. • Co-application of AMF and ENM brings a synergistic effect on abiotic stress tolerance in plants. • There are challenges and limitations associated with the co-application strategy. The emerging challenges of climatic changes, expanding world population, decreasing arable lands and escalating threats posed by usage of chemical fertilizers exert pressure on the need for sustainable agriculture. Stressful conditions for plants can originate from numerous biotic and abiotic factors, and results in crop yield losses. Therefore, improved stress tolerance is a major target for plant scientists. And so far, scientists have developed a plethora of strategies to impart stress tolerance in plants. One possible, but largely unexplored, way to improve stress tolerance in crops is to promote the co-application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) which can have positive effects on both soil and crop plants. AMF are well-known stress regulating organisms that improve nutrient uptake, yield and tolerance to abiotic stresses and this potential could be further enhanced by the co-application with ENMs. This review delves into several aspects. Firstly, it explores the advantages linked to the co-application of AMF and ENMs. This co-application is observed to possess a synergistic impact on the soil microbiome. Secondly, it examines recent studies that have employed this co-application strategy. Thirdly, it investigates the role of the combined effect of AMF and ENMs in boosting abiotic stress tolerance potential in plants. Lastly, it looks into the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the synergism, resulting from co-application and studies that have used omics technology to explore this strategy. The finding that ENMs can synergistically stimulate the activity of AMF is of great significance, as the co-application of AMF and ENMs can be successfully employed as a safe and efficient method for nano-agroecosystems. Further investigations in the future, can help us gain insights into the molecular-level interactions between AMF and ENMs, which would be, an immensely valuable approach, to employ across diverse field conditions.

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