Mycorrhizal Biofertilizers and Heat Stress Tolerance in Cereal Crops

Rising global temperatures, primarily driven by anthropogenic activities, pose a serious threat to agricultural productivity, soil health, and ecosystem stability. Cereal crops such as wheat and rice, particularly in tropical and temperate regions, are increasingly vulnerable to heat stress. This stress impairs physiological functions, leading to reduced growth and yield. As an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have gained attention for enhancing plant resilience under abiotic stress conditions. AMF improve host plant performance through various molecular and physiological mechanisms, including enhanced nutrient uptake, increased antioxidant production, chaperone activity and upregulation of stress-responsive genes. This review highlights the role of AMF as biofertilizers in mitigating heat stress in cereal crops, emphasizing their potential in sustainable agriculture.