Rice Seed Priming with AMF and AMF-Associated Bacteria for Crop Enhancement

Rice productivity is decreasing due to the extended use of agrochemicals and climate changes. Among alternative fertilization strategies, seed biopriming is one of the emerging tools to promote plant growth and protect cultivations from biotic and abiotic stresses. This chapter focuses on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and AMF-associated bacteria (AMFb) to enhance rice crops. The most relevant publications on the subject are presented, casting insight into biopriming mechanisms and effects. The survey underlined that rice symbiosis with AMF and AMF-associated bacteria has interesting features. The microbial diversity is a crucial point for future studies. The potential laying behind a wide range of pathways and secondary metabolites could open new applications in the agricultural field. Moreover, a better understanding of the role of AMF and AMF-associated bacteria and their associations with plants could bring further possibilities to sustainable agriculture.