An Insight of Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi – Rice Symbiosis in Stress Alleviation

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) facilitate host plants to grow vigorously under stressful conditions by mediating a series of complex communication events between the plant and the fungus leading to enhanced photosynthetic rate and other gas exchange-related traits, as well as increased water uptake. Abiotic stresses (such as salinity, drought, cold, heat, mineral deficiency, and metals/metalloids) have become major threats to the global agricultural production. These stresses in isolation and/or combination control plant growth, development, and productivity by causing physiological disorders, ion toxicity, and hormonal and nutritional imbalances. AMF symbionts not only promote the growth of host plant but also alleviate abiotic stresses. AMF are one of the symbiotic microorganisms that regulate phosphorus (P) content, growth, and yield of the host plant. The objective of this study was to see the physiological and molecular mechanisms of mycorrhiza in rice production under different stress and can be used to further investigate the impact of the symbiotic relationship between AMF and rice, which is becoming increasingly relevant for sustainable agriculture, where salinity stress or soil organisms may be useful for plant production. At the molecular level, mycorrhiza upregulates the genes responsible for nutrient uptake and stimulation of Metallothioneins and Phytochelatins synthesis in the host plant as well as in mycorrhizal structures.