Title : Exploring the role of rhizophagus proliferus in soil carbon dynamics and plant health: Implications for agricultural and environmental sustainability
Abstract:
Rhizophagus proliferus, an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, exhibits notable saprophytic activities, distinguishing it as an important contributor to soil and plant health. AM fungi helps in the soil carbon dynamics, by exerting a demand for plant carbon (C) and facilitating its distribution via below-ground hyphal biomass and spores by producing glycoproteins. Despite their substantial role in enhancing net primary productivity and augmenting the accumulation of photosynthetically fixed C in soil, the potential interactions of AM fungi with soil and their effects on soil carbon cycling remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the beneficial impact of Rhizophagus proliferus on soil organic carbon and the growth of host plant Oryza sativa, under in vivo condition. Our observations revealed a substantial enhancement in total and available organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and macroaggregates in soil of treatment sets inoculated with R. proliferus compared to control sets. Additionally, a two-fold increase in both plant height and root length was observed in treatment sets than control sets. These findings indicate the increase in carbon sequestration and soil carbon storage facilitated by the higher hyphal biomass and soil aggregates in the treated soil. Our study offers a foundation for further exploration into the relationship between Rhizophagus proliferus and soil carbon dynamics and their influence on carbon assimilation and transportation. Enhanced comprehension of these relationships holds the potential to optimize our utilization of symbiotic interactions for sustainable agricultural and environmental benefits.
Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, Carbon sequestration, Rhizophagus proliferus, Soil organic carbon, Plant development
