Earthworm and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Interactions: Strategies to Augment Productivity

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have close association with root systems and play key roles in facilitating nutrient uptake by the plants. These fungi have wide distribution, influenced by a number of environmental factors and more specifically the type of host plant. Earthworms constitute the major soil faunal community which significantly influence soil physicochemical and biological properties. The microbiota in soil is responsible for decomposition of organics and maintain nutrient pool. Earthworms through their normal ecological functions are likely to influence microbial communities including those of AMF. Earthworms could modulate soil chemistry which support microbial proliferation. Studies have demonstrated close interaction between diverse species of earthworms with AMF in terms of population density and facilitation of nutrient uptake by plant roots. Earthworms too have been reported to promote dispersal of fungal spores in soil. Studies have also demonstrated that earthworm-AMF association could augment phytoremediation of pesticide and heavy metal residues of contaminated soil. Long term studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of AMF-earthworm interaction in terrestrial ecosystems.