Mycorrhizosphere as a hub of microbial interactions: Implications for nutrient cycling and plant health

Abstract

In sustainable, low-input cropping systems as opposed to conventional agriculture, where their importance has been diminished by high inputs of agrochemicals, the natural roles of microbes in maintaining soil fertility and biocontrolling plant diseases may be more relevant. The largest category, known as vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus, is primarily connected to agricultural crops. Through the host plasma membrane and the fungal cell wall, these fungi enter the host cytoplasm and produce distinctive haustoria-like structures (arbuscules or coiled hyphae) that come into contact with the host cytoplasm. The cortex's fungal structures increase the surface area available for metabolic interactions between the host and the fungal partners. For the construction of a sustainable management system for crop production and soil fertility, a deeper understanding of the interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and other microorganisms is necessary. AM fungi are constantly interacting with a variety of soil microbes, including harmful bacteria, rhizobacteria that promote plant growth, and mycorrhizal helper bacteria. Their interactions might significantly affect agriculture. Numerous studies have examined the effects of mycorrhizal colonisation on associated bacterial communities, although the mechanisms of interaction are still not fully understood. The review includes current state of knowledge on the interactions between bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, along with the potential advantages of VAM in sustainable agriculture.