The combined use of silicon/nanosilicon and arbuscular mycorrhiza for effective management of stressed agriculture: Action mechanisms and future prospects

Abstract

Environmental stresses are a major limiter of plant productivity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be used to feasibly facilitate the growth of stressed plants. Supplementing soils with silicon (Si) has lately been observed to benefit stressed plants. Thus combining AMF and Si use to mitigate stresses for plants has gathered importance and research interest. It is known that AMF absorbs silicon through their spores and hyphae and helps plant roots accumulate silicon. Silicon is known to influence the mycorrhizal responsiveness and growth of plants, but how mycorrhizal fungi and silicon help plants deal with stresses is poorly understood. This chapter explores how silicon, nanosilicon, and AMF act to mitigate environmental stresses in crops and how they can be applied together. In addition, the information gaps related to Si/nanosilicon in soils and analyzing the current and future aspects of combined use of AMF and Si/nanosilicon for crop productivity are addressed. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.