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Recent scenarios on global climate change have stamped rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, unpredictable precipitation, and notably, sea level rise, all of which impose serious challenges on agricultural practices and lead to substantial reductions in crop yield. Among these, the rapid expansion of salinity stress in cultivable areas has emerged as a major constraint, adversely affecting both soil properties and plant physiological functions. In natural environments, plants interact with diverse microorganisms, both external and internal, which play crucial roles in enhancing stress tolerance. Soil microbial communities, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), are recognized as key drivers of ecosystem productivity and sustainability. AMF are known for their role as bio-ameliorators of saline soils, assisting plants in developing tolerance to salinity through multiple beneficial mechanisms. This review aims to explore the adverse impacts of salinity on soil and plant systems, discuss the symbiotic role of AMF in alleviating salinity stress, and highlight the physiological, biochemical, and soil-related mechanisms, such as enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, improved nutrient and water uptake, antioxidant activity, and glomalin production through which AMF contribute to improving crop resilience under saline conditions. Overall, the review emphasizes the potential of AMF as a sustainable tool for mitigating salinity stress and enhancing agricultural productivity in salt-affected regions.
Muhilan et al. (2025) studied this question.