Env Exp Biol (2013) 11: 107–117

Mycorrhiza-mediated phosphorus use efficiency in plants

Abstract

Phosphorus is the second most important plant nutrient after nitrogen that is critical for plant growth, it contributes up to about 0.2% dry mass. It can become deficient in different agro ecological conditions. In soil, it may be present in relatively large amounts, but it is one of the most difficult nutrients for plants to acquire. Much of it is poorly available because of the very low solubility of phosphates of iron, aluminium, and calcium, leading to soil solution concentrations of 10 μM or less and very low mobility. Plants have evolved a range of strategies that increase either soil solution phosphorus uptake capacity or availability in soil. The most exceedingly common of these strategies worldwide is inoculation of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Inoculation can promote plant growth by enhancing phosphate uptake from soil, particularly when the supply of phosphorus limits growth.