Symbiotic Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Soil Essential Component Contributing to Soil Fertility for Sustainable Agriculture in Arid Environment

Arid zonesArid zone are deeply affected by desertification, global warmingGlobal warming, and anthropic pressure. Water deficiency and salinity are very worrying problems that negatively affect the growth and the physiological and biochemical activities in cropsCrops. In these arid zones, the main challenge is to develop new eco-friendly technologies that improve crop tolerance to abiotic constraints such as drouth and salinity. In this sense, mycorrhizal fungi (MF) have received much attention due to their capability in promoting plant growth and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. It is thus fitting that the current review was undertaken to underline the effects of MF on the growth, the nutrition, the development and the crop tolerance to drouth, salt stress, and their use as biofertilizers. Furthermore, their improvement of the tolerance of crop to pests and diseases by activating the different processes of enzymatic defense and nutritional competition.