Wheat, one of the world’s most vital staple crops, faces significant challenges from soil salinity. However, a 2023 study led by Huang et al. offers promising results by demonstrating the positive effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) on wheat growth under saline conditions.
Salinity stress, or salt stress, has been known to impact the yield of grain crops, including wheat, negatively. Yet, the ability of certain fungal species to boost production in saline environments presents a potential countermeasure. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of AMF in mitigating the damage caused by salt stress.
In an experimental setup, wheat seeds were coated with AMF at a rate of 0.1g, equivalent to 108 spores, before sowing. The wheat was then grown under conditions of 200 mM salt stress. The team found that the inoculation of AMF significantly improved the growth characteristics of wheat, including root and shoot length and the fresh and dry weight of both root and shoot.
The study also revealed that the AMF treatment led to a considerable increase in the content of chlorophyll a, b, total, and carotenoids in wheat plants. This increase further validates the effectiveness of AMF in promoting wheat growth under salt-stress conditions.
Interestingly, AMF treatment mitigated the harmful effects of salinity stress by regulating the uptake of micronutrients and certain key elements. It increased the uptake of micronutrients such as Zinc, Iron, Copper, and Manganese while decreasing the uptake of Sodium and increasing Potassium uptake under saline conditions.
The research team concluded that AMF offers a promising strategy for mitigating the adverse effects of salt stress on wheat growth and yield. However, they stressed the need for further investigations at the field level and across different cereal crops to establish AMF as an even more effective solution to alleviate salinity stress in wheat.
The findings from Huang and his team’s study could have far-reaching implications for global food security, particularly in regions with saline soil conditions. If the benefits of AMF are confirmed through broader testing, adopting this fungal solution could significantly enhance wheat production and thus contribute to sustainable agriculture.
