title: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in alleviation of salt stress: a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salt stress has become a major threat to plant growth and productivity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonize plant root systems and modulate plant growth in various ways.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review addresses the significance of arbuscular mycorrhiza in alleviation of salt stress and their beneficial effects on plant growth and productivity. It also focuses on recent progress in unravelling biochemical, physiological and molecular mechanisms in mycorrhizal plants to alleviate salt stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in alleviating salt stress is well documented. This paper reviews the mechanisms arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi employ to enhance the salt tolerance of host plants such as enhanced nutrient acquisition (P, N, Mg and Ca), maintenance of the K(+) : Na(+) ratio, biochemical changes (accumulation of proline, betaines, polyamines, carbohydrates and antioxidants), physiological changes (photosynthetic efficiency, relative permeability, water status, abscissic acid accumulation, nodulation and nitrogen fixation), molecular changes (the expression of genes: PIP, Na(+)/H(+) antiporters, Lsnced, Lslea and LsP5CS) and ultra-structural changes. Theis review identifies certain lesser explored areas such as molecular and ultra-structural changes where further research is needed for better understanding of symbiosis with reference to salt stress for optimum usage of this technology in the field on a large scale. This review paper gives useful benchmark information for the development and prioritization of future research programmes.
authors.affiliation: Applied Mycology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007, India.
authors.forename: Heikham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Evelin
authors.forename: Rupam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Bhoopander
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giri
mesh_terms: D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D054712:Salinity; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism*; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / Q000378:metabolism; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D012965:Sodium Chloride