ABSTRACT
56Climate change and agricultural malpractices like excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides have aggravated the effects of abiotic stresses on crop productivity and degraded the ecosystem. On the other hand, eco-friendly techniques such as the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to increase crop productivity are urgently required. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial microbes that colonize the majority of agricultural plants. They are one of the most widespread symbiotic fungi that colonize the majority of agricultural plants. AMF has also been shown to boost plant performance under water shortages, in addition to improving plant nutrition. In addition, AMF inoculation is generally considered to provide host plants with tolerances to various stressful situations such as heat, salinity, drought, metals, and temperature conditions. On the other hand, AMF can colonize in more than 80% families of plants by forming filamentous hyphae. AMF can potentially improve the adaptation of plants to changing environment as a bio-fertilizer. This chapter provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on AMF and their impact on horticultural crops.
