Fatty Acids Metabolism of Vascular Plants as Influenced by Carnitine and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

This scientific review aims to systematize existing data, address current knowledge gaps, and propose a novel approach concerning the roles of carnitine and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the fatty acid metabolism of vascular plants. Carnitine facilitates fatty acid transport for energy production, while AM fungi enhance plant nutrition. Studies indicate that both carnitine and AM fungi can improve plants’ resistance, performance, and physiology. Therefore, optimizing the interaction between fatty acid metabolism, carnitine, and AM fungi holds the potential to enhance yield stability under abiotic stress, thereby aiding vascular plants in adapting to climate change in future agroecosystems. This review compiles current research and hypotheses on the effects of carnitine and AM fungi symbiosis on plants’ performance, highlighting the potential of their interaction to boost resilience to abiotic stress in tropical soils. This contribution seeks to stimulate further discussion and research leading to a revaluation of ecological concepts, such as abiotic and biotic stress, lipid metabolism, plants’ tolerance, and energy production under environmental stresses.