The potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to enhance metallic micronutrient uptake and mitigate food contamination in agriculture: prospects and challenges

2023/09/22 by Eduardo Moreno‐Jiménez, Nuria Ferrol, Nicolas Corradi +2 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Heavy metals in environment #Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions #Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance

paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/nph.19269

openalex publication_date 2023/09/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Optimizing agroecosystems and crops for micronutrient uptake while reducing issues with inorganic contaminants (metal(loid)s) is a challenging task. One promising approach is to use arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and investigate the physiological, molecular and epigenetic changes that occur in their presence and that lead to changes in plant metal(loid) concentration (biofortification of micronutrients or mitigation of contaminants). Moreover, it is important to understand these mechanisms in the context of the soil microbiome, particularly those interactions of AMF with other soil microbes that can further shape crop nutrition. To address these challenges, a two-pronged approach is recommended: exploring molecular mechanisms and investigating microbiome management and engineering. Combining both approaches can lead to benefits in human health by balancing nutrition and contamination caused by metal(loid)s in the agro-ecosystem.

Citations

• The role of glomalin, a protein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in sequestering potentially toxic elements
• Biofortification—A Sustainable Agricultural Strategy for Reducing Micronutrient Malnutrition in the Global South
• Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-induced mitigation of heavy metal phytotoxicity in metal contaminated soils: A critical review
• Long reads and Hi‐C sequencing illuminate the two‐compartment genome of the model arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiont Rhizophagus irregularis

Discussions

• Just out in New Phytologist Edu Jimenez et al. The potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to enhance metallic micronutrient uptake and mitigate food contamination in agriculture: prospects and cha [bsky, 5 points, 0 comments]

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