Advanced Genetic and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Contribution for Drought tolerance in Cassava

Cassava plays a role in food security as the main or alternative calorie source in several developing countries. Cassava is also known as a resilient crop able to survive under abiotic stress conditions and on relatively poor soils. One important component in Cassava growth and development is the contribution of the cassava association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Several studies have proved that AMF inoculation can improve cassava production under drought conditions. The effectiveness of AMF inoculation is highly dependent on several aspects such as Plant host and AMF identities, environmental conditions, and nutrition availability. Recent ground-breaking research on mycorrhizal symbiosis has revealed several potential genes involved in plant-AMF communication. However, functional validation of candidate genes potentially involved in a cassava-AMF association is still limited. Selecting crops with high yield potential under low nutrition soil and a deep understanding of functional genes involved during the plant inoculated AMF represents an opportunity to improve cassava biomass production.