Dear Colleagues,

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have emerged as crucial allies in sustainable agriculture, revolutionizing our understanding of plant–microbe interactions. Recent research has unveiled their pivotal role in enhancing crop productivity, nutrient uptake, and resilience against environmental stressors, effectively reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Novel insights into the mechanisms underlying AMF-mediated benefits have been uncovered, including the production of plant growth-promoting compounds, modulation of plant gene expression and hormonal pathways, induction of systemic resistance, alteration of rhizosphere interaction and soil structure/fertility, and competition with plant pathogens. These findings pave the way for targeted strategies to optimize AMF colonization and maximize their positive impact on agricultural production. However, further research is still required to fully understand these mechanisms. By harnessing the potential of AMF, agriculture can transition towards sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Optimizing AMF inoculation methods, identifying suitable crop-AMF combinations, and exploring their impact on different agroecosystems are areas that require further investigation. This Special Issue of IJMS invites research articles that:

• Provide novel insights into the functional potential of AMF to address current challenges in agriculture production, particularly yield, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and nutritional quality of crops in terms of micronutrients and secondary metabolites.
• Examine the impact of AMF on soil health, nutrient cycling, and overall ecosystem functioning in agricultural systems.
• Decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying the symbiotic relationship, and how can we manipulate these mechanisms to enhance agricultural productivity,
• Develop tools for engineering AMF that could potentially benefit the hosts, improve their adaption, and overcome challenges related to AMF inoculum production.
• Facilitate AMF-based approaches for sustainable agriculture and reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and water inputs while maintaining or increasing crop yields and quality/functionality,
• Explore mycorrhizal fungal ecology and evolution, delving into the intricate molecular mechanisms that govern their symbiotic interactions with plant roots and the genetic adaptations driving their evolutionary success.

Through this Special Issue of IJMS, we aim to showcase groundbreaking research on the intricate dynamics between AMF and plants, their impact on plant signaling pathways, and the role of multiway interactions in shaping plant growth, fitness, and productivity in agriculture. We encourage the scientific community to submit primary research papers that unveil novel and important data regarding AMF interactions in agriculture. The integration of AMF into agricultural systems holds great promise to enhance food security, reduce environmental degradation, and promote sustainable agricultural practices in the face of global challenges.

Dr. Marouane Baslam
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• agricultural symbiosis
• plant-fungal interactions
• mycorrhizal colonization
• (rhizosphere) microbiome
• host-microbiome fidelity
• biofertilizers
• signalling networks
• multiway interactions
• ecosystem services
• climate change
• crop productivity
• sustainable agriculture