Search Results (1,398)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent emerging contaminants characterized by high environmental stability and biotoxicity. Ubiquitous detection of these contaminants across aquatic environments poses severe threats to ecosystem stability and human health, while constructed wetlands (CWs) serve as a sustainable low-carbon alternative for the remediation of PFAS-laden wastewater. However, traditional mechanisms such as matrix adsorption, phytoaccumulation, and microbial transformation often suffer from low efficiency, rapid saturation, and incomplete degradation. To overcome the above drawbacks, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)–plant–microbe synergistic consortium has become a promising remediation candidate, which facilitates PFAS immobilization and biodegradation via symbiotic crosstalk among three components. This paper reviews recent advancements in PFAS remediation within AMF-facilitated systems, examining fundamental synergistic mechanisms, treatment efficiencies, and key influencing factors. We propose several optimization strategies, including substrate modification, operational parameter refinement, and the integration of advanced technologies. Furthermore, we emphasize the necessity of elucidating the molecular pathways governing long-chain PFAS degradation and addressing current bottlenecks in engineering applications. Future research should prioritize molecular interaction level interaction mechanisms, the development of anti-interference systems, and field-scale validation. This review provides a theoretical foundation and technical framework for leveraging AMF–plant–microbe synergism to enhance PFAS removal in CWs. Full article

Desertification strongly alters soil microbial communities in dryland ecosystems, yet the reassembly of fungal functional groups and their interactions under increasing aridity remain unclear. This study aimed to determine how desertification reshapes arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and endophytic fungal groups in the rhizosphere of Stipa breviflora and Artemisia frigida, as well as how these shifts are associated with fungal network fragmentation. Rhizosphere soil internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing and AMF-specific amplicon sequencing, combined with root colonization assessment, functional annotation, co-occurrence network analysis, and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM), were used to assess shifts in fungal communities along the desertification gradient. Desertification significantly reduced soil multifunctionality and fungal diversity, accompanied by a shift in community composition from environmentally sensitive taxa to stress-tolerant groups. Along the desertification gradient, AMF diversity and colonization decreased, whereas FUNGuild-inferred endophytic fungal abundance and microscopically observed dark septate endophytes (DSEs) colonization increased. FUNGuild-inferred endophytic fungal abundance was negatively correlated with AMF diversity. Co-occurrence networks showed reduced connectivity and increased fragmentation under desertification, especially at the desert steppe and steppe desert stages. PLS-PM analysis revealed that desertification directly increased fungal network fragmentation and indirectly promoted fragmentation through increased FUNGuild-inferred endophytic fungi and reduced AMF diversity, whereas soil multifunctionality mainly reflected environmental deterioration along the gradient. These findings demonstrate the functional reassembly of rhizosphere fungi under desertification and suggest that compensatory shifts among fungal guilds may contribute to ecosystem stability in dryland grasslands. Full article

Soybean is a critical economic, oil and industrial raw material crop, yet its production is often hindered by pathogen infection and pesticide residues. This study explored the synergistic effects of Rhizophagus intraradices and mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHB) on AMF colonization, AMF spore density, total number of bacterial colonies, soybean growth, root rot disease index, and carbendazim residues. Hydroponic and pot experiments were conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with five biological replicates per treatment; after 30 days of growth, three replicates were randomly selected for all measurements. Results showed that inoculation with microbial agents, particularly co-inoculation, increased soybean biomass, reduced disease index, and decreased carbendazim residues. In the hydroponic experiment, co-inoculation increased plant height, aboveground fresh weight, and underground dry weight by 64.28%, 78.13%, and 109.09%, respectively, and decreased carbendazim residues by 71.84% relative to the carbendazim-alone group. In the pot experiment, co-inoculation reduced carbendazim residues by 81.25% and root rot disease index by 45.56% compared with the carbendazim-alone group. Correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation (p < 0.001) between carbendazim degradation in hydroponic and pot systems, indicating stable degradation function across environments. Co-inoculation of R. intraradices and MHB synergistically promotes soybean growth, suppresses root rot, and reduces carbendazim residues, providing a theoretical basis for developing functional microbial inoculants for safe and green soybean production. Full article

Background: Symbiotic fungi play essential roles throughout the entire cycle of orchid plants, including seed germination, seedling development, and maturation. Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo (Orchidaceae) (D. officinale) is a rare and highly valued traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Currently, artificial breeding using tissue culture technology is widely adopted and essential in the Dendrobium industry; however, this approach may impair or disrupt the plant’s ability to establish and maintain symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi. Methods: In this study, the fungal endophyte community (FEC) in the roots of D. officinale cultivated under four different modes was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Correlation analyses were also carried out to examine the relationships between bioactive compounds and the FEC. Results: (1) The FEC in D. officinale roots was dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, with significant differences in abundance, diversity, and community structure among cultivation modes; (2) the FEC under greenhouse cultivation differed significantly from those under tree epiphytic cultivation in terms of fungal nutritional types and dominant taxa; (3) six major mycorrhizal fungal taxa were identified in Dendrobium roots, although non-mycorrhizal fungi accounted for approximately 97% of the community; and (4) polysaccharide content in Dendrobium stems was positively correlated with certain root fugal endophytes (Exophiala, alaromyces, Pseudodactylaria, and Fellomyces). Conclusions: This study provides a foundation for understating the growth of D. officinale under different cultivation modes and highlights the relationship between bioactive compound accumulation and fungal endophyte communities. Full article

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) can potentially be used for uranium (U) phytoremediation. However, the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on key rhizosphere processes and plant U uptake remains insufficiently researched. We hypothesized that AMF inoculation could enhance sunflower tolerance to U stress by improving plant physiological performance and modifying rhizosphere properties. To test this hypothesis, this study examined the effects of AMF (Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus etunicatum, and their co-inoculation) on sunflowers under U stress, encompassing plant growth and physiological traits, rhizosphere properties, enzyme activities in the rhizosphere soil, uranium speciation in the rhizosphere soil, and the accumulation and distribution of uranium within the plant. Results showed that AMF successfully colonized the roots, enhancing plant growth, biomass, and gas exchange, while improving photosynthetic efficiency and reducing non-photochemical quenching. In the rhizosphere, AMF elevated soil respiration, organic matter, dissolved organic carbon, and microbial biomass carbon; improved phosphatases, urease, catalase, and sucrase activities; also reshaped U speciation, increasing exchangeable and carbonate-bound fractions while decreasing those bound to organic matter, Fe/Mn oxides, and residual phases. Moreover, AMF reduced U concentration in leaves and stems, promoted U retention in belowground tissues, and significantly lowered the U translocation factor. These findings demonstrate that AMF inoculation improves sunflower tolerance to U stress by enhancing physiological performance, modifying rhizosphere properties, and immobilizing U in roots, supporting its potential use in phytoremediation strategies for U-contaminated environments. Full article

The development of sustainable and efficient plant growth substrates is crucial for modern agriculture. This study assessed the potential of plant pellets formulated from various lignocellulosic residues, either with or without bamboo biochar (BB-char) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), to support seed germination and early seedling growth. Four types of residues, including coconut coir (CO), corn cob (CC), leaves from the genus Dipterocarpus (DL), and teak leaves (TL), were combined with soil and paper waste to produce eight pellet formulations, with commercial peat pellets serving as a control. Chemical analyses revealed significant variation among the pellet types, with pH values ranging from 6.40 to 7.65, electrical conductivity (EC) from 3.64 to 11.62 mS cm⁻¹, and differences in organic matter, carbon, and nutrient contents [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K)], reflecting the influence of residue type and the addition of BB-char and AMF. Phytotoxicity screening using aqueous extracts demonstrated species-specific responses, with cucumber exhibiting high tolerance across treatments, whereas chili seeds were more sensitive. Final germination percentage (FGP) and seedling growth assays in greenhouse conditions showed that pellets derived from CC and CO, particularly when combined with BB-char and AMF (T6 and T7), enhanced shoot and root development in carrot, chili, cucumber, and tomato, approaching the performance of commercial peat pellets. In contrast, DL- and TL-based pellets resulted in lower germination and growth. These findings indicate that both the physicochemical properties of lignocellulosic wastes and the combination of BB-char and AMF are important factors influencing pellet efficacy, highlighting the potential of CC- and CO-based pellets as sustainable peat alternatives for early-stage plant cultivation. Full article

Although plant–mycorrhizal fungi associations play critical roles in maintaining species diversity within forest communities, the influence of tree ontogeny in mediating these effects on species diversity remains poorly understood. In this study, we integrated tree census data with information on the mycorrhizal types and sprouting ability of multi-stemmed species from a subtropical forest to assess how mycorrhiza-mediated neighborhood interactions affecting survival vary across ontogenetic stages (sapling, juvenile and adult stages) and how these effects correlate with sprouting ability. Our results revealed pervasive ontogenetic shifts in mycorrhiza-mediated neighborhood effects on tree survival for multi-stemmed species. AM heterospecific neighbors consistently exerted positive effects on tree survival across all life stages. In contrast, ErM heterospecific neighbors significantly influenced survival only at the sapling stage, whereas EcM heterospecific neighbors had significant effects during the juvenile and adult stages. When focal individuals were classified by mycorrhizal type, AM focal plants were significantly influenced by three types of mycorrhizal heterospecific neighbors, with the effect of AM heterospecific neighbors at the sapling stage being significantly greater than those of EcM or ErM heterospecific neighbors. Notably, AM heterospecific neighbors were critical predictors of survival for EcM focal plants during both the juvenile and adult stages, while AM and EcM heterospecific neighbors jointly the enhanced survival of ErM focal plants during the adult stage. Moreover, the effects of both AM and EcM heterospecific neighbors increased significantly with the sprouting ability of multi-stemmed species, particularly at the sapling stage. Our study highlights the importance of incorporating tree ontogeny and mycorrhizal symbiosis types into the assessment of factors contributing to species coexistence among long-lived organisms. Full article

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are among the most destructive pests in protected watermelon production under continuous cropping systems. Although both pepper rotation and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation have shown potential for suppressing RKNs and promoting plant growth, their combined effects remain unclear. This study conducted greenhouse pot experiments using continuously cropped watermelon soil over two consecutive cycles. In the first cycle, chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) or watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) was planted, followed by watermelon cultivation in the second cycle with inoculation of Funneliformis mosseae or Glomus versiforme. Compared with continuous watermelon cropping, both rotation and AMF inoculation improved root vitality, osmotic regulation, antioxidant enzyme activities, and photosynthetic performance, thereby enhancing watermelon growth and resistance to RKNs. Among all treatments, chili pepper rotation combined with Glomus versiforme showed the best performance, increasing shoot fresh weight by 31% and reducing disease index (DI), gall index (GI), and egg mass index (EI) by 30.8%, 77.0%, and 57.1%, respectively. In addition, the populations of second-stage juveniles (J2) in soil and roots and adult females in roots decreased by 85.4%, 55.5%, and 50.8%, respectively. High-throughput sequencing results showed that the combined treatment enriched several potentially beneficial microbial taxa, including Ochrobactrum, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, and Delftia. In addition, it enriched predicted metabolic pathways that may be associated with plant growth promotion and stress tolerance. Overall, pepper rotation combined with Glomus versiforme inoculation represents a promising, environmentally friendly strategy for the management of watermelon root-knot nematode disease. Full article

The interaction between mycorrhizal fungi and mycorrhiza helper bacteria (MHB) constitutes a critical symbiotic interface that drives key functions within terrestrial ecosystems, profoundly influencing plant nutrient acquisition, stress resilience, and soil ecological processes. Although mycorrhizal symbiosis has been extensively studied, the complex interactive network between these fungi and MHB—which act as functional “enhancers” and “stabilizers”—and its systemic application potential remains insufficiently integrated and elucidated. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of advances in this field. First, it delineates the functional traits of major mycorrhizal fungal types and their inherent functional reliance on MHB. Subsequently, it dissects the core mechanisms underlying mycorrhizal fungi–MHB interactions through four interconnected dimensions: signal recognition, nutrient exchange, physical association, and defensive synergy. This analysis reveals the foundation for constructing a stable plant–fungus–bacteria functional continuum. Furthermore, the review comprehensively evaluates the empirical applications and demonstrated efficacy of this interactive system in enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting forestry cultivation, and advancing ecological restoration. Finally, by identifying prevailing research gaps spanning molecular mechanisms to field applications, it offers a critical perspective on future research priorities. It also discusses strategies for fostering interdisciplinary innovation to accelerate biotechnology development based on this symbiotic partnership, aiming to provide novel microbial solutions for addressing global challenges such as agricultural sustainability and ecosystem recovery. Full article

Agricultural soils worldwide are facing escalating contamination by heavy metals, which present high risks for health due to their persistence, being non-biodegradable, accumulating across the soil profile, and being easily transferred into edible plant tissues, thus propagating through the food chain, with serious consequences for human health and ecosystem integrity. Conventional physical and chemical remediation approaches are costly, ecologically disruptive and operationally complex for the extent of contamination of agricultural land. Thus, there is an urgent need for sustainable and scalable alternatives. This review addresses the need by providing an integrated, mechanistically grounded synthesis of plant-based bioremediation strategies for heavy metal contamination removal, emphasizing the links between soil chemistry, plant physiology, and soil microbiology. First, the principal contamination pathways and controls on metal speciation and bioavailability are summarized, highlighting how parameters such as pH, organic matter, clay minerals, and redox conditions govern the metal fraction available for the plants. The molecular basis of plant heavy metal uptake, translocation and detoxification is examined in detail, including transporter-mediated root uptake, xylem loading and long-distance transport, and chelation by phytochelatins and metallothioneins. The performance and limitations of the main phytoremedation strategies are evaluated across representative hyperaccumulator species, then two major enhancement solutions are discussed: chemical enhancement using synthetic and biodegradable agents, and biological enhancement through plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and mycoremediation fungi. Integrating these perspectives, this review provides a critical assessment of when and how phytoremediation can offer a realistic and agronomically compatible route for managing heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils. Full article

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve plant performance, but how they coordinately influence root metabolism and associated bacterial communities in sweet potato remains unclear. Here, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Glomus intraradices inoculation on sweet potato seedlings by integrating analyses of rhizosphere soil properties, plant growth and nutrient uptake, root metabolomics, and rhizosphere and endophytic bacterial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing with FAPROTAX-based functional prediction. AMF inoculation significantly increased whole-plant fresh and dry biomass, potassium concentration and accumulation, and the accumulation of starch and water-soluble carbohydrates, while no significant effects were observed on dry matter rate or plant nitrogen and phosphorus concentration. In the rhizosphere, AMF reduced soil electrical conductivity and increased organic matter content without significantly affecting pH, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, or available potassium. Root metabolomic profiling identified 289 differential metabolites, with enrichment of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, porphyrin metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism, together with broad up-regulation of lipid-related metabolites. Bacterial communities showed strong compartment specificity, with the root endosphere displaying lower alpha diversity than the rhizosphere. Higher rhizosphere bacterial Shannon diversity was observed in the AMF treatment, together with compartment-dependent shifts in bacterial community composition; enrichment of endophytic taxa such as Devosia and Niastella was detected following AMF inoculation. Functional prediction further suggested niche differentiation between rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria, together with AMF-associated shifts in carbon- and nitrogen-related functions. Overall, these results suggest that G. intraradices inoculation is associated with enhanced sweet potato growth and enhanced potassium and carbohydrate accumulation in association with coordinated changes in rhizosphere conditions, root metabolism, and bacterial community assembly. Full article

The effects of biochar on soil N₂O emissions remain contentious, and the microbiological processes involved are not yet fully understood. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, key players in soil nitrogen (N) cycling, may mediate the impact of biochar on plant N uptake and N₂O emissions, but this interaction remains unclear. This study involved a two-year field experiment to examine how varying biochar application rates affect soil microbial communities, particularly AM fungi at rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) farmland, and to assess how AM fungi influence soil N₂O emissions and maize growth under biochar addition with two AM fungi treatments (with and without suppression of native AM fungi). The results revealed that biochar significantly enhanced soil microbial diversity, especially the variety and richness of AM fungi. Biochar addition improved soil physicochemical parameters, including soil water content, bulk density, and inorganic N availability. Biochar also decreased AOA and AOB gene abundances, increased AM fungal gene abundances, lowered (nirK + nirS)/nosZ ratio, and reduced soil N₂O emissions. Suppression of native AM fungi increased N₂O emissions throughout the rainfed maize growing period, accompanied by a higher (nirK + nirS)/nosZ ratio. Biochar addition combined with non-suppressed AM fungi promoted maize growth, with the highest yield observed at 20 t ha⁻¹ biochar. Overall, biochar decreased N₂O emissions and strengthened the performance of AM fungi in rainfed maize farmland, highlighting the vital role of AM fungi s in soil N cycling under biochar addition. This study offers a scientific basis for using biochar in reducing N₂O emissions and increasing crop yield in dry farmland. Full article

Phosphorus (P) fixation in aerobic rice cultivation severely limits crop productivity. However, the mechanisms by which arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) regulate phosphate transporter (OsPT) gene expression across genetically diverse varieties under variable soil P regimes remain poorly understood. A controlled pot experiment was conducted to examine six aerobic rice genotypes, CR Dhan 201, CR Dhan 204, CR Dhan 205, CR Dhan 207, IR 36 (P-susceptible), and Kasalath IC459373 (P-tolerant), under three soil P levels (low: 2.68 ppm, medium: 8.81 ppm, and high: 12.84 ppm) with and without AMF inoculation. AMF colonization was significantly higher (50.19–63.63%), and sporulation was greater (24.29–30.28 spores per 50 g soil) in CR Dhan 204, CR Dhan 205, and CR Dhan 207 under low and medium soil P. All AMF-inoculated varieties showed 33–55% improvement in root architecture and 14.87–50.22% higher P uptake compared to uninoculated controls under P-deficient conditions. Ten of the 13 phosphate transporter genes (OsPT2, OsPT3, OsPT4, OsPT6, OsPT8, OsPT9, OsPT10, OsPT11, OsPT12, and OsPT13) were upregulated in CR Dhan 207 under low soil P conditions with AMF, and the broadest gene activation profile was observed across all varieties. These findings establish that AMF-mediated regulation of the OsPT gene network is strongly variety-dependent and most pronounced under P-limited conditions, positioning CR Dhan 207 as a priority genotype for mycorrhiza-assisted phosphorus management in aerobic rice systems. Full article

The benefits of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in alleviating plant abiotic and biotic stresses have been well documented; however, how AMF modulate photosynthesis-related processes under different drought intensities is poorly understood. This study quantified the impact of different AMF formulations on the photosynthetic traits in different host plant types under different intensities of drought stress. A total of 52 published studies were included in a meta-analysis with a random-effects model. Synthesizing the research findings revealed that, under drought stress, AMF significantly improved plant photosynthetic rates and nutrient absorption, with the strongest effect on phosphorus absorption (the effect size Hedges’ g = 3.85, 95% CI: 2.76–4.95, p < 0.001). Overall, the between-study heterogeneity was moderate to high (I² = 64.7%, τ² = 0.38), indicating variability among the included studies. As drought intensity increased, the effect of AMF on the net photosynthetic rate decreased, with the transpiration rate (Tr) and stomatal conductance (Gs) first increasing and then diminishing. Drought intensity exceeding the ‘moderate’ threshold inhibited both Tr and Gs. The AMF effect on chlorophyll content differed among the plant types, with Hedges’ g being 1.656, 2.715, and 3.231 for herbaceous, grass, and woody plants, respectively. Inoculation with multiple AMF species provided greater benefits than single AMF strains in promoting chlorophyll content (Hedges’ g = 1.949 for single vs. 3.217 for mixture) and net photosynthetic rate (Hedges’ g = 2.242 for single vs. 3.986 for mixture). We conclude that the AMF–plant symbiotic association alleviates drought stress by adjusting the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance. The magnitude of these responses varies depending on plant functional type, drought intensity, and AM fungal formulation. Full article

Drought stress is a major abiotic constraint limiting mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) productivity in arid and semi-arid agroecosystems. This study investigated the individual and synergistic effects of Bradyrhizobium sp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant growth, nutrient acquisition, mycorrhizal colonization, and yield of mung bean under contrasting soil moisture regimes. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using a factorial completely randomized design with six microbial treatments (uninoculated control, Acaulospora scrobiculata, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Bradyrhizobium sp., and their respective co-inoculations) and three field capacity levels (50, 75, and 100%). Drought stress was imposed gravimetrically 20 days after sowing. Water limitation significantly reduced growth, biomass accumulation, nutrient uptake, mycorrhizal colonization, and yield in uninoculated plants. In contrast, microbial inoculation markedly mitigated drought-induced adverse effects, with co-inoculation showing the strongest response. Plants receiving combined AMF and Bradyrhizobium inoculation exhibited significantly higher plant height, shoot and root biomass, total dry matter, nitrogen and phosphorus uptake, and yield attributes across all moisture regimes, particularly under severe drought (50% field capacity). Mycorrhizal dependency increased with increasing drought severity, highlighting a greater functional reliance on AM symbiosis under water-limited conditions. Enhanced drought tolerance was closely associated with increased root colonization and improved nutrient acquisition driven by synergistic AMF–Bradyrhizobium interactions. These findings demonstrate that tripartite symbiosis represents a sustainable bio-inoculant strategy to enhance drought resilience and productivity of mung bean under climate change-induced water stress. Full article