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Journals / Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Issue: 1

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

Rohat Gültekin(Toprak, Gübre ve Su Kaynakları Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü, ANKARA)0000-0001-9834-4765
Tuğba Yeter(Toprak, Gübre ve Su Kaynakları Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü)0000-0002-0586-1366
Ceren Görgişen(Toprak, Gübre ve Su Kaynakları Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü)0000-0002-8348-1094
Caglar Sagun(Toprak, Gübre ve Su Kaynakları Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü)0000-0001-8821-3972
Kadri Avag(Toprak, Gübre ve Su Kaynakları Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü)0000-0001-6025-123X
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-08-21
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

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.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:In the face of climate change, drought stress represents a critical challenge to the sustainability of maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation.
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Key Findings & Data: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).
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Conclusion & Impact: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.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi · Drought Stress · Maize

Abstract

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.

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Cite This Article

Gültekin, R., Yeter, T., Görgişen, C., Sagun, C., Avag, K. (2026). Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as Nature-Based Solutions to Improve Drought Adaptation in Maize. Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi, Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1791922

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