Mycorrhizal Symbiosis for Sustainable Optimization of Tropical Agriculture: A Review of Research

Abstract

Excessive application of chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals can cause significant imbalances in soils and agricultural ecosystems. To minimize these impacts, biofertilizers and organic fertilizers are needed to maintain a sustainable production system. The use of subterranean microorganisms in agriculture to stimu- late plant growth and improve yields has recently received increasing interest. In this context, mycorrhizae represent a viable solution to mitigate these adverse effects. Mycorrhizal fungi are able to form a symbiotic relationship with the roots of plants in the environment. Mycorrhizal fungus helps the plant to absorb nutrients and water. In addition, mycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in storing carbon (C) in the soil. Most previous studies have just considered the effects of AMF species on a specific crop in one particular area but have not assessed the balance of AMF in production systems in tropical agriculture. This consideration should allow for the optimization of cropping practices through a review of the work on the use of AMF in tropical agri- culture production systems. In this paper, we will discuss, through different examples of experiments carried out in the tropics, the performance of different strategies for managing the potential of AMF to maintain a sustainable production system.