Contrasting effects of commercial and native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculants on plant biomass allocation, nutrients, and phenolics

As the global population increases, the need to feed more people must be met while simultaneously conserving the long-term sustainability of our agroecosystems. There is mounting interest and discussion around the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculants to enhance crop growth, nutrient uptake, and pest resistance. However, the effects of AMF inoculation are variable and context dependent. This study found that a multi-species AMF inoculant had a stronger effect on plant biomass allocation and chemistry than a single AMF species inoculant, however, neither of these had a stronger effect than re-inoculating plants with a field-sourced native AMF community.