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Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi as a Tool for Sustainable Environments
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Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi as a Tool for Sustainable Environments

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2025 | Viewed by 8019

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Raúl S. Lavado

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Facultad de Agronomía Universidad de Buenos Aires and Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales (INBA). Av. San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires C1417DSE, Argentina
Interests: nutrient dynamics in agricultural systems; abiotic stress and fungi relationship; effects of salinity on plants; crop/endophytes relationship; sustainable agroecosystems; phytoremediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Viviana M. Chiocchio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Facultad de Agronomía Universidad de Buenos Aires and Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales (INBA). Av. San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires C1417DSE, Argentina
Interests: phosphorus solubilization and crops; abiotic stress and fungi relationship; plants/ root endophytes relationship; soil fungi, plant microbe interactions; mycoremediation, phytoremediation and endophytes in soils with hydrocarbon; mycorrhizal symbiosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A great variety of fungi (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, dark septate fungi (DSE) and other endophytes) are associated with the roots of vascular plants, presenting a wide range of symbiotic interactions. Among their many functions, they make the uptake of nutrients by plants from organic and inorganic sources more efficient, producing extracellular enzymes, secreting organic acids, phytosiderophores, etc. Also, they produce precursors of plant hormones. They facilitate the absorption of water and at the same time mitigate the effect of salinity on plants. Those microorganisms reduce the effect of pollutants on plants, especially heavy metals. In addition, fungi not only tolerate but degrade hydrocarbons, agrochemicals and other organic pollutants, using them as a carbon source. It is also known that these fungi usually increase the resistance of crops to different kinds of phytopathogens. The gradual increase in our knowledge about these symbiosis processes expands the potential application of these natural mechanisms in agriculture and the environment. In this way, they can contribute to a more sustainable system, in order to overcome the crises that exist in the current state of our civilization. This Special Issue of Plants will highlight the advances made regarding the knowledge of the multifaceted role played by different types of fungi associated with plants under different environmental conditions. Our objective is to show recent developments and future trends in this complex topic.

Dr. Raúl S. Lavado
Dr. Viviana M. Chiocchio
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fungi functions
  • symbioses mechanisms
  • symbiotic interactions
  • nutrient availability
  • tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress
  • fungi tolerance to contaminants
  • degradation of organic compounds
  • fungi and environment
  • mycoremediation

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 11580 KiB  
Article
Discovery of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Mosses of the Pottiaceae Family from the Chaco Serrano (Tucumán, Argentina)
by Myriam del V. Catania, Patricia L. Albornoz, Atilio O. Rausch, Tamara M. Ledesma, Shanshan Dong, Yuqing Cai, Yuying Zeng, Yang Liu, Guillermo M. Suárez and Javier E. Moreno
Plants 2025, 14(7), 1048; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071048 - 28 Mar 2025
Viewed by 529
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic fungi that associate with the vast majority of terrestrial plants. Among non-vascular plants, while AMF associations are well-documented in liverworts and hornworts, there is a broad consensus that symbiotic associations do not occur in mosses. Here, we [...] Read more.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic fungi that associate with the vast majority of terrestrial plants. Among non-vascular plants, while AMF associations are well-documented in liverworts and hornworts, there is a broad consensus that symbiotic associations do not occur in mosses. Here, we report the presence of AMF in the living material of mosses found in Chaco Serrano (Tucumán, Argentina). We found all characteristic structures of AMF when establishing an intimate connection with two moss species of Pottiaceae (Bryophyta). While Gertrudiella uncinicoma exhibited AMF with both Arum- and Paris-type morphologies, Pleurochaete luteola only displayed an Arum-type morphology. Plant tissue samples were subjected to high-throughput sequencing for AMF identification. We determined that Rhizophagus irregularis was a clear dominant species in both moss species, with Glomus sp. also being present as a less abundant element. In addition, we also reported the presence of vesicles, arbuscules, and spores adhered to the hyphae and the presence of septate endophytes. This finding expands our understanding of the interactions between AMF and non-vascular plants and prompt us to further characterize this interaction by considering the diversity of mycorrhizal associations with concurrent implications for the ecology of mosses and the functionality of the ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi as a Tool for Sustainable Environments)
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22 pages, 2987 KiB  
Article
Responses of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Communities to Long-Term Mining and Passive Restoration
by Sofía Yasmín Utge Perri, María Victoria Valerga Fernández, Adalgisa Scotti, Roxana Paula Colombo, Florencia González, Lautaro Valenzuela, Alicia Margarita Godeas and Vanesa Analía Silvani
Plants 2025, 14(4), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14040580 - 14 Feb 2025
Viewed by 782
Abstract
Mining activities cause strong soil alterations, such as heavy metal (HM) pollution, which decreases the diversity of plant communities and rhizospheric microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The polymetallic Paramillos de Uspallata mine in the Andes Mountains, the first mining exploitation in Argentina, [...] Read more.
Mining activities cause strong soil alterations, such as heavy metal (HM) pollution, which decreases the diversity of plant communities and rhizospheric microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The polymetallic Paramillos de Uspallata mine in the Andes Mountains, the first mining exploitation in Argentina, provides a unique scenario to study AM fungal resilience after long-term disturbance following over 40 years of inactivity. This study aimed to analyze mycorrhizal status and AM fungal communities in the mine and a nearby unexploited area and to evaluate their associations with soil parameters to elucidate life history strategies. Long-term exposure to elevated Fe, Pb, Zn, and Ag concentrations and high electrical conductivity (EC, 5.46 mS/cm) led to the dominance of Entrophospora infrequens in association with Pappostipa speciosa, demonstrating that this AM species is a stress-tolerant strategist in symbiosis with a pioneer perennial plant, resilient in the most impacted mine areas. In contrast, the unexploited area, with an EC of 0.48 mS/cm and low HM contents, supported competitive and ruderal species, revealing distinct ecological strategies of AM fungi in disturbed versus undisturbed environments. These findings highlight the potential of E. infrequens for bioremediation and ecological restoration in post-mining landscapes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi as a Tool for Sustainable Environments)
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15 pages, 4019 KiB  
Article
Identification of Fungus GZ in Buckwheat Rhizosphere and Its Promoting Effect in Buckwheat Seed Germination
by Xiaona Zhang, Guimin Yang, Lingdi Gu, Can Liu and Qingfu Chen
Plants 2024, 13(23), 3360; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233360 - 29 Nov 2024
Viewed by 663
Abstract
To obtain fungal strains that enhance plant growth in the rhizosphere soil of buckwheat, we utilized morphological and molecular biological methods to identify 10 fungal strains from the rhizosphere soil and subsequently evaluated their effects on seed germination. The results demonstrated that all [...] Read more.
To obtain fungal strains that enhance plant growth in the rhizosphere soil of buckwheat, we utilized morphological and molecular biological methods to identify 10 fungal strains from the rhizosphere soil and subsequently evaluated their effects on seed germination. The results demonstrated that all 10 fungal strains were classified as Isaria cateniannulata. The spores of these strains significantly enhanced the germination of buckwheat seeds, with germination rates improving by 3.46% to 700.75% compared to the control group. This study fills the gap in understanding I. cateniannulata as soil rhizosphere fungi, providing a foundation and materials for the seed coating technology of buckwheat seeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi as a Tool for Sustainable Environments)
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16 pages, 2938 KiB  
Article
Studies on the Phosphorus-Solubilizing Ability of Isaria cateinannulata and Its Influence on the Growth of Fagopyrum tataricum Plants
by Guimin Yang, Can Liu, Lingdi Gu, Qingfu Chen and Xiaona Zhang
Plants 2024, 13(12), 1694; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121694 - 19 Jun 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1230
Abstract
I. cateinannulata has been shown to promote the growth of F. tataricum. However, whether its growth-promoting capacity is related to its ability to solubilize phosphorus has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, we sought to assess the phosphorus-solubilizing ability of 18 [...] Read more.
I. cateinannulata has been shown to promote the growth of F. tataricum. However, whether its growth-promoting capacity is related to its ability to solubilize phosphorus has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, we sought to assess the phosphorus-solubilizing ability of 18 strains of I. cateinannulata by analyzing their growth in an inorganic phosphorus culture medium. The effects of F. tataricum on growth and effective phosphorus content were analyzed through field experiments. The results showed that all 18 strains of I. cateinannulata had a phosphorus release capacity, with phosphorus solubilization ranging from 5.14 ± 0.37 mg/L to 6.21 ± 0.01 mg/L, and strain 9 exhibited the best phosphorus solubilization effect. Additionally, the field results demonstrated that I. cateinannulata positively influenced the growth, root length, and yield of F. tataricum by increasing the chlorophyll and soluble phosphorus content. This study will provide a material basis and theoretical support for investigating the interaction mechanism between I. cateinannulata and F. tataricum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi as a Tool for Sustainable Environments)
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12 pages, 2554 KiB  
Article
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Selectively Promoted the Growth of Three Ecological Restoration Plants
by Hengkang Xu, Yuchuan Shi, Chao Chen, Zhuo Pang, Guofang Zhang, Weiwei Zhang and Haiming Kan
Plants 2024, 13(12), 1678; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121678 - 18 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1843
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation can promote plant growth, but specific research on the difference in the symbiosis effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant combination is not yet in-depth. Therefore, this study selected Medicago sativa L., Bromus inermis Leyss, and Festuca arundinacea Schreb., [...] Read more.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation can promote plant growth, but specific research on the difference in the symbiosis effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant combination is not yet in-depth. Therefore, this study selected Medicago sativa L., Bromus inermis Leyss, and Festuca arundinacea Schreb., which were commonly used for restoring degraded land in China to inoculate with three AMF separately, to explore the effects of different AMF inoculation on the growth performance and nutrient absorption of different plants and to provide a scientific basis for the research and development of the combination of mycorrhiza and plants. We set up four treatments with inoculation Entrophospora etunicata (EE), Funneliformis mosseae (FM), Rhizophagus intraradices (RI), and non-inoculation. The main research findings are as follows: the three AMF formed a good symbiotic relationship with the three grassland plants, with RI and FM having more significant inoculation effects on plant height, biomass, and tiller number. Compared with C, the aboveground biomass of Medicago sativa L., Bromus inermis Leyss, and Festuca arundinacea Schreb. inoculated with AMF increased by 101.30–174.29%, 51.67–74.14%, and 110.67–174.67%. AMF inoculation enhanced the plant uptake of N, P, and K, and plant P and K contents were significantly correlated with plant biomass. PLS-PM analyses of three plants all showed that AMF inoculation increased plant nutrient uptake and then increased aboveground biomass and underground biomass by increasing plant height and root tillering. This study showed that RI was a more suitable AMF for combination with grassland degradation restoration grass species and proposed the potential mechanism of AMF–plant symbiosis to increase yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi as a Tool for Sustainable Environments)
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21 pages, 2122 KiB  
Article
Effect of Rootstock Genotype and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal (AMF) Species on Early Colonization of Apple
by Chris Cook, David Huskey, Mark Mazzola and Tracey Somera
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1388; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101388 - 16 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2170
Abstract
The effect of plant cultivar on the degree of mycorrhization and the benefits mediated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been documented in many crops. In apple, a wide variety of rootstocks are commercially available; however, it is not clear whether some rootstock [...] Read more.
The effect of plant cultivar on the degree of mycorrhization and the benefits mediated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been documented in many crops. In apple, a wide variety of rootstocks are commercially available; however, it is not clear whether some rootstock genotypes are more susceptible to mycorrhization than others and/or whether AMF species identity influences rootstock compatibility. This study addresses these questions by directly testing the ability/efficacy of four different AMF species (Rhizophagus irregularis, Septoglomus deserticola, Claroideoglomus claroideum or Claroideoglomus etunicatum) to colonize a variety of commercially available Geneva apple rootstock genotypes (G.11, G.41, G.210, G.969, and G.890). Briefly, micropropagated plantlets were inoculated with individual species of AMF or were not inoculated. The effects of the rootstock genotype/AMF interaction on mycorrhization, plant growth, and/or leaf nutrient concentrations were assessed. We found that both rootstock genotype and the identity of the AMF are significant sources of variation affecting the percentage of colonization. However, these factors largely operate independently in terms of the extent of root colonization. Among the AMF tested, C. etunicatum and R. irregularis represented the most compatible fungal partners, regardless of apple rootstock genotype. Among the rootstocks tested, semi-dwarfing rootstocks appeared to have an advantage over dwarfing rootstocks in regard to establishing and maintaining associations with AMF. Nutrient uptake and plant growth outcomes were also influenced in a rootstock genotype/AMF species-specific manner. Our findings suggest that matching host genetics with compatible AMF species has the potential to enhance agricultural practices in nursery and orchard systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi as a Tool for Sustainable Environments)
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