The agronomic potential of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) in cereals – legume mixtures in Africa

Abstract

Low yield currently experienced in mixed cereal-legume systems in Africa, is a manifestation of different biotic and abiotic constraints to crop production. These constraints include low availability of different soil mineral elements, toxicity due to heavy metals and hence tissue damage by reactive oxygen species, low N2-fixation from legumes, poor soil structure leading to low soil moisture availability, weeds, pests and diseases. However, mycorrhiza association involving cereal-legume mixed culture system may alleviate most of these constraints, thus, improving plant growth in crop mixtures. In this review, we report the agronomic potential of mycorrhiza association in cereal-legume mixed cultures.