Harnessing the Beneficial Fungus Piriformospora indica for Climate Resilient Crop Production: A Review

Piriformospora indica, classified as an Agaricomycetes fungus, has garnered significant interest due to its remarkable capacity to enhance plant growth, fortification, and resilience to stress factors. Its ability to inhabit various plant species stems from its direct influence on plant hormone signalling pathways. This colonisation stimulates increased root proliferation by generating indole-3-acetic acid, facilitating better nutrient absorption and ultimately leading to heightened crop yields. Furthermore, P. indica initiates resistance against fungal and viral threats while reinforcing the plant antioxidant defences, fortifying its resilience to stressors. It aids in successfully acclimating micro-propagated plants upon transplantation. It can establish complex symbiotic relationships, including tripartite symbiosis, which enhances the population dynamics of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Overall, P. indica is a multifaceted facilitator of plant growth, a source of biofertilisation, a barrier against pests and diseases, a regulator of biological functions, and a promoter of overall plant development. Understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the mutualistic interaction between P.indica and crop plants can provide valuable insights for enhancing crop protection and productivity, thereby contributing to the sustainability of agricultural practices.