Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungi Symbiosis in Sustainable Production of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Under Drought Stress: An Emerging Biofertilizer in Dryland Areas

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is an important cereal crop grown in arid and semiarid regions where water and other resources are limited. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns have resulted in frequent droughts, which caused significant yield loss in sorghum. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in sorghum cultivation due to its resilience to climate change and potential source of food and income. The symbiotic interaction of sorghum with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been found to induce several physiological and molecular changes that improve the ability of sorghum to withstand drought stress. This symbiotic relationship enhances water and nutrient uptake, osmotic adjustment, activation of stress‐responsive genes, stomatal regulation, and antioxidant defense, leading to improved drought tolerance in sorghum. Agricultural practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, intercropping, crop rotation, and the use of organic amendments promote the diversity and effectiveness of AM fungal symbiosis. Such agricultural practices create more favorable conditions for AM fungal establishment and growth while reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. In this review, we highlight AM fungal symbiosis on sorghum growth, physiology, and molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of AM fungal symbiosis under moisture deficit conditions. Overall, the present review elucidates sorghum production and breeding success in Ethiopia, the symbiotic mechanisms between plants and AM fungi, the prospects of biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture, the potential of AM fungal symbiosis as a sustainable approach to improve sorghum production and its synergistic effect with other crop management practices.