Fungal allies in saline soils: mineral mobilization, plant nutrient acquisition and salinity stress tolerance

Abstract

Soil salinity is an issue in agriculture. It also has a vast effect on decreasing agrarian productivity, as it limits the availability of nutrients and results in physiological stress on plants. Traditional methods of managing and treating soil cannot be used in saline and mineral-deficient conditions. As a solution to these problems, fungi are important biological agents for sustainable solutions. This review concentrates on fungal diversity and its aptitude to alleviate salinity stress and enhance nutrient availability through mineral solubilization and mobilization and, in selected plant–fungus associations, facilitate subsequent nutrient acquisition by the plant. The adverse effects of salinity on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and overall physiological performance are discussed, and the mechanisms of stress mitigation and enhancement of mineral availability mediated by fungi are described, such as organic acid synthesis and ion homeostasis. Plant-fungal interactions enhance salinity stress resistance, as discussed in this review. Moreover, developments in the field of molecular and omics-based studies cannot be overestimated in terms of acquiring an understanding of the genetic and molecular pathways of plant-fungal interactions in saline and mineral-deficient environments.