Plant-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Association Under Drought Stress

Drought stress is a significant factor affecting plant growth, development, and agricultural productivity worldwide, and its frequency and intensity are increasing due to climate change. Plants often form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to enhance their resilience against drought. This chapter aims to explore the multiple aspects of the association between plants and AMF under drought stress. AMF play a crucial role in enhancing plant resilience to drought through multifaceted mechanisms such as direct water uptake, enhancement of antioxidation defense, modulation of hormonal balance, induction of morphological adaptations, transcriptomic regulation and improvement of soil physical and chemical characteristics. Although prolonged and intense drought stress adversely impacts both symbiotic partners, the overall benefit of the association far outweighs the cost. Understanding the dynamics and mechanisms of the plant-AMF association under drought stress is crucial for developing sustainable agricultural practices and drought mitigation strategies. Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interactions between plants and AMF and harness their potential for enhancing crop productivity and resilience in water-limited environments.