Arbuscular mycorrhizal association is beneficial for growth and detoxification of xenobiotics of barley under drought stress

Plant growth and productivity under abiotic stresses, such as water shortage or pollution, are major concerns for scientists in food production and plant health. The intensification of livestock production, with its increased demand for fodder, has led farmers to rely heavily on chemical fertilizers. Municipal waste and wastewater sludge are often considered potential sources of plant nutrients, although they may carry significant amounts of anthropogenic pollutants.

The extent to which plants respond to drought, as well as how pollutants are absorbed or affect plants, can depend on rhizosphere processes, such as mycorrhizal symbioses. Consequently, this study investigates plant defense mechanisms in the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) when exposed to potentially hazardous sewage sludge pollutants under drought conditions.