The mediating role of fungal microbiome in the relation between crop health and soil nutrients

Abstract Ensuring a stable and nutritious food supply requires sustainable agricultural practices, with soil fungi emerging as promising bio-fertilizers that can enhance crop health. In this study, we assess how the fungal microbiome mediates the relationship between environmental factors and crop health in wheat fields. Using a structural equation model, we analyzed fungal genera together with abiotic variables (weather, soil nutrients, and field type), while crop health was estimated via NDVI values from satellite imagery, providing a cost-effective approach for field monitoring. Our findings from both conventional and ecological wheat fields confirm our hypothesis that the fungal microbiome mediates the effects of environmental factors, such as soil nutrients, seasonality, and weather, on crop health. Notably, we observe a consistent positive association between the fungal genus Mortierella and crop health. Positive associations were also found for Candida, Leucothecium, and Phialemonium, while Thermomyces and Trichocladium correlated negatively. Mortierella had the greatest impact, highlighting its potential as a key biofertilizer.