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Effect of Rhizophagus Irregularis on Growth and Quality of Crops

Updated: May 14

Effect of Rhizophagus Irregularis


Rhizophagus irregularis, formerly known as Glomus intraradices, is an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) that forms symbiotic relationships with plant roots to boost nutrient uptake and plant resilience. This fungus extends the root system's reach through extraradical hyphae, enhancing access to phosphorus, nitrogen, and micronutrients while improving soil structure and stress tolerance. Farmers increasingly use it to achieve higher yields and better crop quality sustainably.



Mechanisms of Action

Rhizophagus irregularis colonizes roots via appressoria, forming arbuscules for nutrient exchange where plants supply carbon in return for minerals like phosphorus via fungal transporters. Its hyphal network expands the absorptive area up to 100 times, solubilizing bound nutrients with acids and phosphatases. The fungus also secretes glomalin, a glycoprotein that stabilizes soil aggregates, boosts water retention, and sequesters carbon.


Under stress, it activates plant antioxidants like superoxide dismutase and catalase, reduces reactive oxygen species, and modulates hormones such as abscisic acid for better drought and salinity tolerance. It competes with pathogens for space and induces defense genes, suppressing root-knot nematodes and Fusarium.



Impacts on Crop Growth

In maize, R. irregularis inoculation increases shoot and root biomass by 15-40%, height, chlorophyll, and dry weight, with up to 35% higher yields under nutrient limits. Soybean sees 15-30% yield gains, enhanced phosphorus uptake, and better performance in heavy metal soils. Wheat benefits from improved phosphorus acquisition, higher grain yield, spike numbers, and thousand-seed weight in field trials.


Cassava tubers increase by 14.5% in phosphorus-poor soils, while rice grain yields rise 35-50% with disease resistance to bacterial blight. Cannabis seedlings show 25% more root length, higher biomass, nutrient content, and survival rates.



Enhancements in Crop Quality

R. irregularis improves fruit set, size, flavor compounds, and nutrient density in tomatoes (25-35% yield boost) and citrus via better lateral roots and water uptake. In cotton, it raises fiber quality alongside yields through phosphorus efficiency. Legumes like chickpea gain higher protein content from optimized nitrogen.


For licorice under drought, co-inoculation upregulates genes for glycyrrhizin and liquiritin, elevating medicinal value and phosphorus use. Overall, it biofortifies staples with micronutrients like zinc and iron.



Field Evidence and Yield Data

Crop

Yield Increase

Key Benefits

Maize

20-35%

Biomass + water efficiency

Soybean

15-30%

P uptake in contaminated soil

Wheat

Significant (biomass, spikes)

Soil microbial functionality

Rice

35-50%

Disease resistance

Cassava

14.5%

P-deficient soils

Cannabis

25% root length

Seedling quality

Meta-analyses confirm 9.5% potato yield gains (3.9 tons/ha) across 231 trials, often cutting fertilizers 25-50%. In Morocco wheat fields, it boosted total biomass and depended on native infectivity.



Practical Applications

Apply as spores (245/g in products like Indogulf's) at transplant via seed coating, drip, or soil mix, compatible with rhizobia and organics. It reduces chemical inputs, supports organic farming, and aids hydroponics or biofortification. Challenges include matching strains to soils, but in vitro production ensures viability.


This AMF drives sustainable agriculture by linking growth, quality, and soil health.



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