Bio inoculation with Rhizobum and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) under Contrasting Water Condition: Implications for Sustainable and. Climate Resilient Production. A systematic Review
Abstract
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a nutritionally and agriculturally important legume with the capacity to establish beneficial symbiotic relationships whit nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). It’s adaptability to variable environmental condition, nutritional value, and biological nitrogen fixation capacity make cowpea an important crop for substantiable agriculture systems (Burgos Arzola 2017; Abebe and Alemayehu 2022). Nevertheless, water availability remains an important factor affecting plant growth, symbiotic interaction, grain yield and nutritional quality. Bio inoculation with Rhizobium and AMF represents a biological for improving nutrient acquisition and nitrogen fixation, whereas AMF can enhance root colonization and the acquisition of phosphorus, water and other nutrients (Tu 1981; Tilak et al. 2006; Caldera et al. 2013a; Thoker and Patel 2020). Furthermore, co-inoculation with rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi has been associated with increased cowpea yield and crude protein under drought stress (Pereira et al. 2021). Water deficient and waterlogging, however, impose different physiological constraints on cowpea. Soil moisture and temperature can alter microbial activity (Ramos and Zúñiga 2008). While waterlogging cab reduce cowpea growth, seed yield and quality with responses varying according can to genotype and development stage (Olorunwa et al. 2023). Consequently, microbial benefits observed under optimal condition cannot necessarily be extrapolated to contrasting water environments This review critically examines current evidence concerning cowpea interactions with Rhizobium and AMF under contrasting water condition, emphasizing nodulation, nutrient acquisition, physiological performance, soil fertility, yield and grain nutritional quality. The available evidence supports the development of integrated plant microbe water research frameworks capable of identifying biological strategies got increasing the susceptibility and resilience of cowpea production under environmental variability.