title: [Ecological significance of arbuscular mycorrhiza biotechnology in modern agricultural system].
abstract: Mycorrhiza plays a key role in nutrient cycling in ecosystem, and protects host plant against environmental stress. Under natural condition, plant's mycorrhizal structure is a normal phenomenon, and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) association is the commonest mycorrhizal type. If well mycorrhizal structure can be formed during plant root system developing process, the quantity and quality of plant production will be improved in large. Because of its effects on plant growth and health, it is accepted that AM symbiosis can reduce chemical fertilizer and pesticide inputs. Consequently, this will lead to a reduction in harmful chemical substance impact on environment. The key effects of AM symbiosis can be summarized as follows: (1) improving rooting and plant establishment; (2) improving uptake of low mobile ions; (3) improving nutrient cycling; (4) enhancing plant tolerance to (biotic and abiotic) stress; (5) improving quality of soil structure; and (6) enhancing plant community diversity. In this paper, the ecological characteristic of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF), effects of AM on host plant, and ecologic significance of AM biotechnology in agricultural system were reviewed.
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Southwest Agricultural University, Chongqing 400716, China. zhangyong916@xinhuanet.com
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Bingquan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000383:Agriculture; D001709:Biotechnology; D004463:Ecology; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000502:physiology*; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism