The combined application of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) and Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) is widely promoted as a sustainable approach to enhance phosphorus availability and improve crop productivity. However, increasing evidence indicates that their interaction is not consistently synergistic. This review critically evaluates the negative interactions between VAM and PSB in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) by synthesizing field-based evidence and recent literature. Results from multiple studies indicate that co-inoculation may increase yield by 15-25% under low phosphorus conditions, whereas inconsistent or reduced responses are observed under high phosphorus or unfavorable environmental conditions. Mechanistic insights reveal that microbial competition, antagonistic interactions, and phosphorus-mediated suppression are key limiting factors. The review also identifies critical research gaps and proposes strategies for improving biofertilizer efficiency in groundnut-based systems. This review provides a novel mechanistic framework explaining inconsistent field responses and offers practical strategies for optimizing VAM–PSB application.
Raj et al. (Fri,) studied this question.