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Updated: Oct 30, 2025

Production of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungal Inoculum and Phenotypic Evaluation of Rice and AM Symbiosis Under Saline Conditions
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Production of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungal Inoculum and Phenotypic Evaluation of Rice and AM Symbiosis Under Saline Conditions

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Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Mitigate Aluminum Toxicity and Regulate Proline Metabolism in Plants Grown in Acidic Soil

Modhi O Alotaibi1, Ahmed M Saleh2, Renato L Sobrinho3

  • 1Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 84428, Saudi Arabia.

Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mitigate aluminum (Al) stress in plants by regulating proline metabolism. AMF inoculation reduces Al accumulation and enhances plant growth and photosynthesis, with proline regulation playing a key role.

Area of Science:

  • Plant Biology
  • Mycology
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance plant growth and stress tolerance.
  • Aluminum (Al) stress negatively impacts plant growth and photosynthesis.
  • Proline accumulation is observed in mycorrhizal plants under stress, but its metabolic regulation by AMF under Al stress is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of AMF inoculation on Al-stressed barley and lotus.
  • To analyze changes in Al uptake, photosynthesis, and proline metabolism (biosynthesis and degradation pathways) in response to AMF symbiosis under Al stress.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed plant growth and photosynthetic rates in Al-stressed barley and lotus with and without AMF inoculation.
  • Quantified Al accumulation in plant tissues.
  • Studied key enzymes and metabolites in proline biosynthesis (glutamate and ornithine pathways) and degradation pathways.

Main Results:

  • Al stress reduced growth and photosynthesis, with lotus showing more tolerance than barley.
  • AMF inoculation significantly reduced Al accumulation and mitigated negative Al impacts on growth and photosynthesis, with greater benefits observed in barley.
  • AMF upregulated proline biosynthesis and repressed its catabolism, particularly in lotus, correlating with improved nitrogen metabolism.

Conclusions:

  • Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play a significant role in mitigating aluminum stress in plants.
  • The regulation of proline metabolism, including the upregulation of biosynthesis and repression of catabolism, is a key mechanism underlying AMF-mediated Al stress tolerance.
  • AMF symbiosis offers a promising strategy for improving plant resilience in Al-contaminated environments.
Keywords:
Rhizophagus irregularisbarleylotusnitrogen assimilationphotosynthesisproline metabolism

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