Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as Nature-Based Solutions to Improve Drought Adaptation in Maize

In the face of climate change, drought stress represents a critical challenge to the sustainability of maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation. This study explored the potential of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) to enhance maize tolerance to drought. The experiment was conducted in a glass greenhouse of the Soil Fertilizer and Water Resources Central Research Institute, Ankara, employing a factorial design with five AMF treatments under three water stress levels (70%, 50%, and 30% of field capacity). Maize plants inoculated with AMF demonstrated notable improvements in growth parameters under drought conditions. At 70% field capacity, the AMF treatment with Rhizophagus intraradices (M3) significantly increased plant height (PH) by up to 104.2 cm and fresh weight (FW) by 35.7 g, compared to control values of 95.7 cm and 27.5 g, respectively. Similarly, at 50% field capacity, AMF treatments sustained higher stem diameter (SD) measurements, with a notable instance being Rhizophagus irregularis (M2) at 5.44 cm, against a control value of 4.74 cm. The resilience of AMF-treated plants was further underlined by the improved root dry weight (RDW) in the face of severe drought stress (30% field capacity), where Glomus iranicum (M5) treatments resulted in RDW of 1.20 g compared to 0.73 g in non-AMF-treated plants. These findings substantiate the hypothesis that mycorrhizal symbiosis can significantly mitigate the effects of drought stress on maize, suggesting a viable strategy to enhance crop resilience and productivity in water-limited environments.