Beneficial mycorrhizal symbionts affecting the production of health‐promoting phytochemicals

Abstract

Fresh fruits and vegetables are largely investigated for their content in vitamins, mineral nutrients, dietary fibers, and plant secondary metabolites, collectively called phytochemicals, which play a beneficial role in human health. Quantity and quality of phytochemicals may be detected by using different analytical techniques, providing accurate quantification and identification of single molecules, along with their molecular structures, and allowing metabolome analyses of plant-based foods. Phytochemicals concentration and profiles are affected by biotic and abiotic factors linked to plant genotype, crop management, harvest season, soil quality, available nutrients, light, and water. Soil health and biological fertility play a key role in the production of safe plant foods, as a result of the action of beneficial soil microorganisms, in particular of the root symbionts arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. They improve plant nutrition and health and induce changes in secondary metabolism leading to enhanced biosynthesis of health-promoting phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoids, phytoestrogens, and to a higher activity of antioxidant enzymes. In this review we discuss reports on health-promoting phytochemicals and analytical methods used for their identification and quantification in plants, and on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi impact on fruits and vegetables nutritional and nutraceutical value.

Enhanced concentrations of elements and secondary metabolites in Viola tricolor L. induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

“…Changes in plant secondary metabolite concentrations of AM plants may be (1) due to enhanced mineral nutrition, and/or (2) a result of plant reaction to fungal colonization (Ceccarelli et al 2010;Copetta et al 2006;Fontana et al 2009;Kapoor et al 2007;Mandal et al 2013;Toussaint 2007;Toussaint et al 2007;Sbrana et al 2014). Both of these mechanisms are possible explanations for the impact of AMF on the production of phenolic acids and flavonoids in V. tricolor in our study.…”

“…AMF have been found to stimulate growth, improve resistance to pathogens, heavy metals and salinity, and influence the level of secondary metabolites in plants (Smith and Read 2008). The use of these symbiotic soil microorganisms has therefore been proposed for medicinal plant species (Ceccarelli et al 2010;Copetta et al 2006;Kapoor et al 2002aKapoor et al , b, 2007Khaosaad et al 2006;Rozpądek et al 2014;Sbrana et al 2014;Toussaint 2007;Toussaint et al 2007Toussaint et al , 2008Zubek et al 2010Zubek et al , 2011Zubek et al , 2012a.…”

Arbuscular mycorrhiza differentially affects synthesis of essential oils in coriander and dill

“…The question arises whether the rare evidence for a negative role of AMF in EO synthesis reflects the real state or is rather caused by neglected publication of negative results. As the production of secondary metabolites, including EO, is affected by multiple factors including plant genotype, crop management, harvest season, soil quality, available nutrients, light, and water (Sbrana et al 2014), both abiotic and biotic conditions of the experiments would most likely affect the outcomes in terms of EO synthesis. Most studies of AMF effects on aromatic plants have been conducted under controlled conditions, be it in greenhouses or growth chambers, where plants were grown in soil-less cultivation media, or in substrates containing only some small portion of soil.…”

Effect of Bioinoculants on the Quality of Crops

“…They are a nutritional source of sugars, vitamins (mainly C and E), carotenoids, flavonoids, and phenol compounds collectively called phytochemicals, with antioxidant activity. The consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet is important for the prevention of several diseases (chronic, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases) (Giovannetti et al 2012;Sbrana et al 2014). Both abiotic (soil chemical-physical properties, growth conditions, postharvest storage) and biotic factors (plant species or cultivar and interaction with soil microorganisms, mainly AMF and PGPR) can modulate the content of antioxidant compounds.…”