Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Enhanced Production and Crop Yield Under Changing Climate

Abstract

Climate change has negatively affected crop productivity and induced intensive degradation of various ecosystems components. Eco-friendly management practices, such as the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), are becoming a crucial tool to improve crop yield and productivity under changing climate. AMF are generally known as biofertilizers, which can improve plant growth and development and provide protection to plants against environmental constraints such as soil poverty, drought, salinity, as well as metal toxicity. AMF are natural root symbionts that provide essential mineral nutrients to plants in order to improve their growth under normal and stressed conditions. AMF's role as bio-fertilizers can potentially fortify plants development against a changing environment. The present chapter will provide current comprehensive knowledge on AMF and their influence on plants growth and yield through improving nutrient uptake as well as soil characteristics, which can contribute to the maintenance of ecosystem health and sustainability under harsh environmental conditions.