Negative Impact of AM Fungi on Plant Health

Associations with mycorrhizal fungi typically benefit plants by enhancing their uptake of water and nutrients, particularly phosphorus, from the soil. However, there are situations where these associations can have adverse effects on plants. These situations can include:

High Soil Fertility: In soils with high levels of available phosphorus and other nutrients, the benefits of mycorrhizal associations may be reduced. Plants may not need the fungi to acquire nutrients, and the energy cost of supporting the fungal symbionts can outweigh the benefits, leading to reduced plant growth.

Plant Species Sensitivity: Some plant species are less adapted to mycorrhizal associations and may suffer from increased competition for carbohydrates or other resources when colonized by mycorrhizal fungi. Non-mycorrhizal or facultatively mycorrhizal plants, which do not rely on mycorrhizal associations for nutrient uptake, may be negatively affected by these fungi.

Fungal Species Effects: Different mycorrhizal fungal species can vary in their effects on plant growth. Some fungal species may be less beneficial or even harmful to certain plant species, possibly due to differences in nutrient acquisition efficiency, carbon demand, or other aspects of the symbiotic relationship.

Environmental Stress: Under conditions of environmental stress, such as drought, salinity, or heavy metal toxicity, the balance of the mycorrhizal symbiosis can be disrupted. While mycorrhizal fungi can sometimes help plants cope with stress, in other cases, the stress may reduce the effectiveness of the symbiosis or increase the cost to the plant, leading to negative outcomes.

Disease Susceptibility: In some cases, mycorrhizal colonization can alter a plant's defense responses, potentially making it more susceptible to certain pathogens. The shift in resource allocation within the plant due to mycorrhizal associations may also indirectly affect its resistance to diseases.

Competition with Other Symbionts: Mycorrhizal fungi may compete with other beneficial microorganisms for space and resources in the rhizosphere. If mycorrhizal fungi dominate, they may suppress other beneficial microbes that could otherwise contribute to plant health and growth.

Imbalanced Carbon Allocation: Mycorrhizal fungi require carbon from the host plant to sustain their growth and function. Under certain conditions, this demand for carbon can be excessive, leading to an imbalance in the plant's carbon budget and potentially reducing plant growth and reproduction.

Qasim Ali

While arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are generally known for their beneficial effects on plant growth, there are instances where they can have negative effects under certain conditions. Here are some documented cases:

Artemisia ordosica (Nursery Shrub Species):Fungi: Funneliformis mosseae Conditions: Low water and low nutrient levels Effects: In these conditions, AM fungi reduced plant height and biomass. The AM fungi did not significantly contribute to nutrient and water acquisition, potentially suppressing the plant's direct pathways for these resources (

Article Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant growth and ...

Temperate Japonica Rice Cultivars:Fungi: Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis Conditions: Varied response among rice varieties Effects: In some rice varieties, AM fungi inoculation had a negative impact on growth. For instance, the growth of Gleva and Gines varieties was adversely affected by Rhizophagus irregularis (

Article Effect of Root Colonization by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ...

Karst Shrub Ecosystems:Plants: Various species in karst shrub ecosystems Conditions: Poor and heterogeneous soils Effects: AM fungi showed a negative correlation with plant growth, particularly in plants with fine root architecture. These plants have an intrinsic ability to acquire nutrients, and AM fungi colonization did not provide additional benefits, sometimes even resulting in reduced growth (

Article Accumulation in nutrient acquisition strategies of arbuscula...

Elymus nutans (A Grass Species):Fungi: Diversispora eburnea, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Paraglomus occultum Conditions: With and without nitrogen addition Effects: AM fungi inoculation in nitrogen-rich conditions led to varied plant responses. Some treatments resulted in lower biomass accumulation compared to non-mycorrhizal controls, indicating that AM fungi can negatively affect plant growth under certain nutrient conditions (

Article Contribution of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoc...

Triticum aestivum (Wheat):Fungi: Glomus species Conditions: High phosphorus levels Effects: Under high phosphorus conditions, AM fungi can inhibit plant growth. The fungi might excessively divert plant resources to sustain the symbiotic relationship, leading to reduced plant growth and biomass (

Article Accumulation in nutrient acquisition strategies of arbuscula...

These examples illustrate that the interaction between AM fungi and plants can be complex and context-dependent. Factors such as plant species, soil nutrient levels, water availability, and specific AM fungal species play crucial roles in determining whether the effects will be beneficial or detrimental.

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